Bridge of No Return - (Korea) Day 276

Our NCOIC giving a little speech after getting pinned, 
the bridge of No Return in the background.

Work call this morning was at 0800, but I was up early and decided to head in early at about 0740. There was a meeting at 0900, so I started setting up for it to give everyone a head start. Once the meeting started I had time to do one SkillPort and some schoolwork. I then got a call from Special K who needed my assistance. We had to gather up a number of frames that we use for awards and take them back to the arts and crafts center. The new general decided he wanted a different shaped coin, so now none of the frames fit this coin. (The general's coin is put in the frame along with the certificate for a number of awards that are given out).

I took the remaining SUV from the exercise and Special K took the office car. Unfortunately when he was loading his car, he dropped about 5 frames…we had to toss them because of the damage. Once we dropped off all the frames we ate lunch at the small food court on the south side of post. After that we returned the exercise SUV and checked our office car out for another week. Not sure why we can't check it out for a month or more at a time, sometimes it can be a hassle getting it there once a week…and a waste of time.

When we arrived back at the office we changed into our class b uniform. The class b uniform is the dress uniform, but the top is the short sleeve and it only has the name, rank and the branch badge. For some reason my pants seem a little tighter…hmmmm.

We headed to a bus that had about 15 or so people in it for the ceremony. The drive is long, so I put in my headphones and took a nap. At one point something woke me up and I practically jumped out of my seat. I hate it when that happens! We headed to the DMZ to a place called "The Bridge of No Return". I've seen it before on the tours that I've had, but we were not allowed to get out because we did not have enough protection in case there was an incident. For the ceremony there were around 5 or so soldiers there, but only armed with pistols. The bridge itself crosses the line between north and south Korea. It was used at one point to exchange prisoners . Both sides were given the choice to cross or remain if they chose, but once they made the decision and crossed…they were not allowed to return.

We had the ceremony for our NCOIC who was being promoted to Sergeant First Class (E-7). She asked me earlier in the week if I could read the "Attention To Orders". I'm not a public speaker, in fact earlier in life I had terrible fears of doing so. The army has forced me many times out of my comfort zone. There are times when you're ordered to do something you have no desire or even afraid to do, but you have to just do it. Surprisingly I wasn't too nervous about reading this for the ceremony…I wasn't excited either. Reading the "Attention To Orders" is basically me reading the orders that were given to our NCOIC for her promotion. When I started reading them everyone has to stand at attention, then when I'm done she got pinned with her new rank. It all went smooth…I had to make sure to read in a loud and clear voice since we were outside. I just hope I don't get nominated for more public speaking.

We then boarded the bus and headed back to the office. We arrived back shortly before 1800, so our KATUSA and SPC Mick were let go so they could get to the DFAC before it closed. I stayed back and cleaned up the office before taking off. Since we got back late, I did not work out once again. That gets a little frustrating. I plan to get back on track tomorrow and the rest of the weekend for sure. Instead I took a shower, ate, and then did schoolwork…then a TV show before bed.

DMZ Déjà Vu - (Korea) Day 185

ROK soldiers facing North Korea at the JSA. The concrete line half way down the
building in front of them is the border between the North and South

Work call was at 0700 this morning. Well it wasn't really work call. Me, SPC Mick and our sergeant were going on a field trip to the DMZ with a number of other staff from our building. I had already made the trip with the USO, but when asked if I wanted to attend this one I said sure. It's free, I get to wear civilian clothes and I don't have to go to work…I'm in!!

We boarded the bus and headed out around 0730. The entire trip was very similar to the USO trip except we didn't have a tour guide giving us little tidbits of information the entire trip. Because of this I would have to say that the USO trip was better, but I'm definitely not complaining. We ate lunch at a restaurant in the middle of nowhere. I thought for sure our bus took a wrong turn as we started driving down a dirt road with a number of rice patties on either side. We arrived at a restaurant where we all sat on the floor (traditional Korean style) to eat. We could order either beef, duck, or spicy pork. They brought it out raw and we cooked it on the table. It was pretty good, always nice to eat straight off the grill.

We then visited the 3rd Tunnel. Since I went down last time I chose not to do it again. I saw it once and I'm sure nothing's changed. It was also a bit hotter and there were more people going up and down the tunnel. When our sergeant and SPC Mick came back up they were dripping with sweat! Our sergeant said it was hot as hell down there. I would suggest to anyone coming to Korea to go on a tour to the DMZ. It's all very informational and interesting. It's also crazy to hear about some of the incidents that have happened at the JSA over the years.

We got back around 1600 and I headed to my room to do some schoolwork. Have I said I'm ready for this class to be over? I was able to finish my portion of the team project and handed it over to the rest of the team.

A memorial in the JSA where some North Koreans attacked and killed some
US Army soldiers with Axes. The US Army soldiers were trimming a tree
and the North Koreans took it as an act of aggression I guess.

DANGER!!! Land-mines!!!

Rice patties surrounding Korean Ginseng. The Korean's believe ginseng can
cure just about anything, it's very popular here.

Lunch...Korean Style

Anonymous

Hi Brandon,

For some reason the pictures are not holding.  As we are living vicariously through you, we love your journal and pictures.

Mick's Mom and Dad

Thursday, June 2, 2011 - 10:23 PM

Brandon

Hmmm...you'll have to let me know what you mean by "not holding". I know the page doesn't print well, so I suggest making a PDF of the page before printing. If they are not showing up correctly on the web page, please let me know what operating system you are using and what browser you are using. I use Safari on a Mac to view and test, but I know it's not the most common browser out there. If you let me know what you use I can test it out and see if I have the same issues.

Thanks,

Brandon

(Also...glad you like the blog) :)

Friday, June 3, 2011 - 02:38 PM

Mick's mom

Hi,

The pictures are not showing up.  It only flashes the meal then it is gone.
With the other blog entrys the pictures are fine.  Just this one entry....go figure.

O/S is Vista.  The internet browser is Windows Internet Explorer.

Friday, June 3, 2011 - 09:39 PM

(Side note...with the transfer to WordPress all issues with the pictures should be resolved)

Weekend Wrap-Up (DMZ) - (Korea) Days 131 & 132

From left to right: The young hawaiian's buddy, the air force master sergeant,
me, and the young hawaiian.

Saturday: Had to wake up at 0610 this morning in order to get ready and video chat with my wife a bit before heading to the USO. We had to be at the USO by 0730 for the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone…A.K.A. the boarder between North and South Korea) tour we signed up for. By we I mean, me, the young hawaiian & his buddy, the air force master sergeant in my office and PFC Pickle. We all arrived there except for PFC Pickle. He had called me last night and was sounding a little iffy. I tried calling him, but he didn't answer. There is a waste of $35 for him.

We all signed in and boarded the bus. It was a full bus and we headed out for the drive towards the DMZ which took around an hour. Our tour guide on the bus talked to us most of the way giving us a number of interesting facts. When we arrived near the DMZ at an army base, we switched buses and an army soldier boarded with us and took over as our tour guide. We headed up to the JSA (Joint Security Area) which is where any diplomatic talks take place. In most areas of the DMZ there is 2 kilometers on each side of the line that is uninhabited, but the JSA is an area where both sides come together. We were shown the conference room where diplomatic engagements take place. This room is actually right on the boarder of the two nations, so I was able to "step into" North Korea by going to the far end of the room. I can now add that to the list of countries I've been to…LOL. I was hoping to see a number of communists today, but unfortunately they only had one out and ironically he was taking our picture. We were told there were a number of North Koreans in the various buildings keeping a watchful eye on all of us at all times.

We then headed off to see some other various sites such as the "bridge of no return" and heard about all the various incidents that have occurred here since the war ended. It was all very informative and pretty interesting. After stopping at a few different places we headed to a place called "The 3rd Tunnel". This was the 3rd infiltration tunnel the South has found that the North has created for a surprise attack. Up until now they have actually found 4 and suspect there may be up to 16 more. We were able to walk down and actually check out the tunnel itself. It was quite a walk down and up. It's pretty crazy to think that this was even built.

Our last stop was an international railroad station called Dorasan Station. This station was built when relations were warming up between the two Koreas and the plan was to have a train travel all the way through North Korea and allow people to eventual travel to China and Europe. Relations soured after a North Korean soldier shot and killed a South Korean woman and the station was never used except for a few test runs. It's now basically only a tourist stop. I found it very strange to walk through the station. It was all quite and empty, but all the electronics were on. It was like some movie where all the people just vanish, or perhaps a zombie movie where all the normal people have disappeared. Either way it was an odd feeling walking around the place. There was a gift shop there, but that was about it.

We then headed to lunch and returned. I think most of the folks including me slept most of the way back. The trip wore everyone out. We arrived back a little after 1600. I headed back to my room and did some schoolwork. I then met up with the young hawaiian and we went to the movies since they are still free this month. We watched "The Eagle". It was a decent movie about a roman trying to regain his family's name after his father lost a legion of men in England. I'm glad it was free though, it's a movie that I would suggest putting in your Netflix queue, but not spending the money on renting. It was no Gladiator.

I then went back to my room and drank my bottle of communist beer that I was able to purchase during our trip. Surprisingly it wasn't too bad. After that I ended up doing some more homework before going to sleep.

At the JSA. North Korea in the background and the diplomatic meeting rooms in blue

The lone communist I was able to see this weekend

Inside the diplomatic conference room. Our US Army tour guide along with a
ROK soldier there for our protection. He's standing at "ROK Ready" 
perfectly still & showing no emotion.

Some North Korean items that were obtained during one of the many
incidents that have occurred at or near the JSA.

Sunday: I slept in…always nice. I then did laundry and had a chance to video chat with all my kids and my wife for hours. Gotta love it when that happens. I really hate being away from them for so long. I start to feel very guilty at times for not being there and being with them. I hate hate hate being apart.

The rest of the day was pretty mellow. I just did schoolwork, went to the gym and worked out, then came back and did more schoolwork. I then watched some TV and called it a night.