Pictures of Korea from 1960-1961
Down Town Seoul, 1961
This is Seoul, along the river in 1961.
I was stationed at Camp Casey Sep 1960 to 61 as a Truck Driver. We
had Alerts often, but on this morning in June 1961, things seemed
a little more active. I latter found out that this turned out to be
the day that Gen Park Chung Hee took over the Korean Government. I
was sent to pick up a Sgt at the MP Station at Camp Casey. He told
me we would be going to a airfield south of Seoul to pick up some
Priority Cargo. He was in his web gear and carrying a M3 45 cal
Sub-machine-gun, as were the MPs in the 2 Jeeps that were going
with us. The Jeeps also had pedestal mounted machine guns just
behind the seats. As we headed south towards Seoul, we saw more
and more Korean Troops marching and setting up sand bag
emplacements. As we got close to Seoul, the larger intersections
had either tanks or machine guns setup. This is when I asked the
Sgt, are you sure these are South Koreans? He assured me they were.
We went through Seoul without any problems with the MP lights
flashing, and arrived at the airfield and loaded some large wood
crates. Going back North to Casey I had a MP Jeep in front of me,
and one in the cargo area of my truck, and a Sgt in the cab . The
2nd Jeep was following us, The MP Sgt told me to follow the lead
MP Jeep, and to for no reason to stop for anything. He said if
anything gets in our way, push them out of the way. When we
arrived back at Casey, I backed up to the 7th Inf Div HQ, and
they off loaded it. There was a Master Sgt standing on the loading
doc watching, and I asked him what was in the wood boxes? He said
he has a TS Clearance, and he does not know.
I never did find out what the cargo was for sure, but rumor at the
time was since there was a Coup d'a Tat, the US Military had
shipped some new TS Communications Equipment to be used by the HQ
Units, in-case the new South Korean Government became not friendly
to the US Interest.
I had just turned 18, and this was burnt into my memory forever.
This is a Korean Tank in Seoul during the 1961 Coup
A typical Bus of that time frame up near Cp Kaiser (Unchon-ni)
A Village up in the area near Camp Kaiser. As a Truck Driver,
I drove from Cp Casey to Cp Kaiser often in my M211 2 1/2 Truck.
That is the bridge you crossed coming from Cp Casey,
then turned to go up through the Chinese Tunnel
This is the Chinese Tunnel, viewed coming from Cp Kaiser.
The MSR was gravel from Cp Casey Gate 2 North.
This Little Piggy Went to Market
A small village up near the Chinese Tunnel
The younger generation in Korea doesn't
have a clue what there parents had to do.
The road between Camp Red Cloud and Camp Casey.
Uijongbu 1961
Uijongbu Bus 1961
Typical house in the country 1961
Uijongbu Street 1960-61
Uijongbu view from hill in 1961
The Village of Chung on the out skirts of Seoul
The Village of Pangol
Tongduchon in the 1961
GIs on road march near Uncheon (old name Unchon-ni)
This is highway 37 just east of Chon-gok in 1960
The older generation did what was needed to survive.
Waiting to load on the Troop Ship at Inchon to go home.
Packed like sardines
Most of us went home in these Troop Ships till around 1970
These were the C-124 double decker cargo plane that we
flew on in the early days when we got R&R's to Japan for a weeks
rest. Some of the guys flew home in them also, but very few. I
don't know which would be worse, the Troop Ship, or that C-124
island hopping all the way back to the States. :)
More coming soon