DMZ Veterans
Are you a DMZ veteran? Tell us who you are and something about your time in Korea. E-Mail: Sharon Corum.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Abigill, Ron
I was an MP in Korea in 1967 and 1968 stationed at the advance camp just south of the "peace village". I was a sargeant the in charge of a squad (about 18 GI's and 7 Koreans attacched to the U S Army ), that pulled security in the JSA. I had a good friend killed a Sgt. James Anderson and another friend Pvt. Wood they were ambushed in april 1968 while proceeding to the JSA to relieve my squad. they were killed along with 2 Koreans and the wounding of 2 GI's (Pvts. Jacks & Sharpeta - not sure of spelling). , 2682 Walston Road, Mt. Airy Md, 21771 410-875-0263
Brown, Bob
Korea 63 - 64. 8th. Army, 76th. Engr. Bn.(Kimpo)Support, TDY Osan Air Base, TDY Wejonbu, 7th. Inf. Div. 1st.Cav. Camp Casey. Rebuilding road from DMZ, south. Served 6 weeks. Ascom 121st. Med. Evac.Hosp. injuried, 10% DAV.Viet Nam 65 - 66, 62nd. Engr. Bn. (cbt) Heavy Phan Rang. For the Forgotten Heros of the Forgotten Victory, Bless you All.
Foster, Anthony W.
In brief, I was stationed on the DMZ in a remote camp known as Camp Greaves. The only place closer to North Korea was Camp Liberty Bell and JSA. I was assigned to a scout platoon, we conducted reconissance of forward areas along the MDL, (Military Demarkation Line). We were so close to North Korea, we could see some of their forward observation posts. During the winter patrols of my unit, on a mid-night ambush, we heard and attempted to assist another unit that had apparently been ambushed by a North Korean unit. By the time we were able to reach the objective, the North Koren unit had pulled back to their own borders and the ambushed unit had sustained some casualties. As it turned out, it was a South Korean unit that had been attacked. All information regarding the above incident was never revealed to anyone - as far as I know. If you could find a map from the time I was stationed on the "Z" it shows no U.S. Army units North of the Imjin River, but the place that did not exist on the maps was my home for 13 months. Although I was along way from home, in a country that was and is still divided, I found the older citizens, (the ones who lived through the war) saluted us, tried to feed us, even when they did not have enough to eat. They appeared to want us in their country. The college students were constantly rioting, tearing their own country apart, demonstrating against the U.S. presense in South Korea. There were times, when you had the chance to get away from the "Z" you were still not allowed to go to Seoul are anyother highly populated city. I did find the country beautiful when it wasn't raining or snowing on you in the middle of a patrol or lying in an ambush at 0200 in the A.M. Or if a North Korean sniper wasn't taking a shot at you, it was a place I was glad to serve my country, and I would never trade those memories for anything. , 1741 Park Ave. #17, Long Beach, CA. 90815
Anthony W. Foster
2nd. Indianhead Division
1/9 Manchu Batallion
CSC - Scout Platoon
Feb. 14, 1987
Feb. 21, 1988
Gates, Senior Airman Thomas
Hello, my name is SRA Thomas Gates I'm an E-4 in the USAF. I'm attending Airmen Leadership school at Edwards AFB, CA. One of our projects is to write an Enlisted Heritage paper. I served in Korea from Sept 97 to Sept 98. I'm a crew chief on an F-16 and would like some information on the Flying Chicken squadron. I believe they are based out of Misawa AB Japan. It's the squadron where the crew chiefs were left behind and eventually hung by safety wire at Kunsan AB. If you cannot send information just some help where I could find information on this subject would be greatly appreciated, thank you Senior Airman
Harris, Byron P. Jr.
Company A 44th Engr. Bn. (Const) 1968-1970. Spent 5 weeks at Camp Casey with 7th Infantry Division. Most of my time was spent at Camp Carroll in Waegan. I trucked construction materials and Heavy Equipment all over Korea. (Before the Seoul to Pusan expressway) I logged close to 200,000 miles during my tour and never had an accident. I will never forget it, the tour, the people, or the country. Thanks and your doing a swell job.
Hescht, Harold
My name is Harold Hescht. I served in the US Army, 7th Infantry, 73rd Tank Battalion in the Korean War. I was in Korea from March 1953 to November 1954. I am trying to locate other members of my unit and any information on my unit. Any help you could provide me would be of great assistance. Please feel free to forward this message on to other people. Thank you,
Johnson, Dr. Mark - I was with the 1st Bn 79th Artillery (105's) at Camp Hartell, just South of Munsani, 1967-1968. It was at the time of the Blue House Raid and the Pueblo capture. It's good to see a site that recognizes that the DMZ of Korea was and is a very volatile place. I am originally from Urbana so it is especially interesting for me to come across this website. Good work! Dr. Mark Johnson. Center for Rehabiltation Technology, 490 10th St., Atlanta, GA 30332-0156, Work: 404-894-3683 Fax: 404-894-9320 Home: 706-546-7032, Cell: 707-372-7032 http://murmur.arch.gatech.edu/crt/crthome.htm
Lehman, James R.
Served with U.S. Army from 12/80 through 12/81 with United Nations Support Group Joint Security Area at Pan Mun Jom, Rep. of S. Korea as a Military Policeman. I will be happy to provide information to anyone interested. Also interested in hearing from anyone who served on the line during that time period.
Moses, Rick
My name is Rick Moses. I served in A Co. 1st/23rd 2nd Inf. from 2-70 thru 3-71. I spent about 9 months north of the Imjim in the D.M.Z. I was looking for maps of where I was when I came across this site. Thank you for recognizing that we exist. My e-mail address is
Murray, Tom Jr.
I served in Korea 1965-66 with the 31st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. I was assigned to HHC, 1st battalion, recon platoon. I arrived at Inchon in May 65 via the USS Gordon. It was the last troop ship to be used to transport soldiers to Korea. There were close to 5000 of us on that "TUB". The 31st was based at Camp Casey. The things I remember about the next fifteen months were ambush patrols, guard towers, op's, cold, heat, rain and the fog at night. The good thing though, is thru efforts like this web site people will know about the DMZ. The sacrifice of thousands of DMZ vets will not go unnoticed. Thanks for your hard work. Tom Murray, Jr.
Reynolds, Tom
B Troop 1st Sqdn. 9th Cav. Regt. 1st Cav. Div. at Camp Woods. Feb 1964 - Mar 1965. E-mail: .
Schloetter, Jerry
I served in the 6th Bn. 15th Arty.(SP) from Sept. 1959 to Sept. 1960. Our unit was part of the 7th Infantry Division. Since the 7th was in reserve, and FA units were never in reserve, we were in the 1st Cavalry Division area. We were one of the most forward Field Artillery batteries, being located just outside of Munsan-i. I was a 2nd Lt. just fresh out of Fort Sill. I lived for a year in a Jamesway tent. Our compound did not have running water, but the water takers had to come in several times a day to fill the tanks so we could take showers and use the toilets. While it wasfairly quiet the year I spent in Korea, about 6 months after I left, several men from my old unit were ambushed and killed near Munsan-i.
Schmidt, Eugene J.
I was stationed at Camp Casey in 1962 and 1963 as a dental technician. Later went to flight school at Ft.Rucker and served a tour in Vietnam and another 6 months in Thailand. My email is Eugene J. Schmidt
Sisson, Robert F.
Paris, IL - 2 tours in Korea. 1st beginning April 1961 through 1962 for 16 months at Camp Keiser with 7th Infantry Division as M-56 tank driver & gunner. Nov. 1962-April 1963 in Berlin while Berlin Wall first put up. 2nd tour in Korea April 1965-October 1966, 2nd Infantry Division patrolling the DMZ.
Stanley, Rich
I joined your museum association a few months ago after hearing of your Korea DMZ Veteran inclusion from our DMZ Vet Assn President; Dave Benbow. I am very proud to have served our country (and the protection interests of the people of South Korea) on the Korea DMZ at Camp Pelham in 1976 - 77. I arrived in South Korea in June 76 right after a series of border hostilities. Originally assigned on orders from Ft Riley Kansas (Big Red One) to a unit in southernmost Korea at Pusan I was eager to get into something as a young buck sergeant, and asked to go north to the 2nd Infantry Div Demilitarized Zone,....the replacement station SP4 clerk looked at me like I was an insane man and said " OK, go stand in that line over there" in it I saw alot of bewildered looking soldiers who obviously didn't share my sense of adventure. My 45min trip north to the DMZ at Camp Pelham (4th MP Platoon and 2/17th Field Arty HQ) in an open top jeep was a real memory as well as the drivers' continual advise to me that "Joe Chink is gonna jump Sarge, you gotta watch yerself up here!" Our MP Platoon was the Law & Order MP Element for the area from the "Z" south on the MSR # 1 to the second stop lite in Seoul , during "hot times" of which there were many. One squad of our platoon was designated to assist the "unauthorized military dependents" south and out of the hostile zone; while the other three squads were detailed to cross the Imjin River (just 4minutes north of our camp) over the Freedom Bridge and fight as infantry with the 2/9th (MANCHU) Infantry near the live artillery fire-base (the only active US Army fire-base in the world at the time) FOUR-POPPA ONE. I well remember with clear memories OPERATION PAUL BUNYAN, the initial warning order/briefing from a Full Colonel was "this action will be over in 5 days. One day for skirmish, two days to kill all the sob,s and two days to allow them to police up their own bodies" his briefing made my hair stand on end even though I was a 1972 Vet of the 2nd UN Mid East Emergency Force in Turk-Kurdistan.I well remember the MP gun jeep money escorts for AMEXCO from the DMZ to Seoul (a heady experience to say the least), the Village `Foot Patrols, the kimchi Bar Fights, the beautiful country with beautiful hardy and proud people - I'll never forget any of it. I did 22years as a career military police officer and can truely say my 13 month tour on the "Z" was the most memorable.
Thank you for your hard work in this Korea War Project , we all thank you.
Correspondence to DMZ vets:
Hi Lynnita:
Just read the letter that was posted about the DMZ Vets. I would like to let all those Veterans who were in Korea from 1953 to the present time , that they are not forgotten by any of us and never will be. I helped set up the DMZ after the War and I do know what he meant. But in order to keep the memory of these brave men and women alive , they should join our ranks (Korean War Veterans Association) they will find a local Chapter in their area. From 1950 to the present we have had more then 4million men and women serve in that country . WHERE ARE THEY?
All who served in Korea are welcome to join with us and carry on long after we are gone ,or we will surely be forgotten for all time.
Joseph Shearer, President --KWVA ,Greater Cleveland Chapter
In April of 1968 my patrol was ambushed wounding Sgt. Bowman. The ambush took place at 7 a.m. a rare happening. The Q.R.F. was several clicks away on a wild goose chase which appears to have been planned by the N. Koreans. For 8 hours we held our position with no fire support and with limited reinforcements. One of the out posts brought over extra ammo. My first impression when the fire fight was the hottest is that they wanted to overrun us, or at least capture a few of my men. We were only 75 meters from the N. Korean line. At one point they tried to send a U.N Representative with flag flying, etc. He was wounded as was his Jeep driver.
This was not our only contact with the N. Koreans. We were called unofficially Imijn scouts. We were Charlie Co. of the 2nd, 23rd and 2nd Infantry Division. There was little mention of the firefight back home. N. Koreans suffered some heavy casualties, but we were told to withdraw and leave the bodies of N. Koreans. We did recover one of the weapons that was near our positions. The N. Koreans were seen coming recovering casualties. Sgt. Bowman was awarded purple heart and ACM. I was awarded SCM with V for valor. I just happened on this page and thought that no one would recognize what the GI's went through. The DMZ was not Vietnam but it had its share of danger and hardship. I have some photos, N. Korean propaganda willing to share with museum or make contributions. Let me know. , 5114 Mayer Road, Hamburg, NY 14075.