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HOW IT WAS!KUNSAN AIRBASEOTHER UNITS
(1951-1954)14th Trans Port Co. (1952-1954)
21st Trans Port Co. (1954-1955)
Det 1 507th Signal Service Co. (1952-1955)
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HOW IT WAS:
KUNSAN AIRBASE
(1951-1954) |
Other Units at Kunsan Airbase (1951-1954):Acknowledgment: Special thanks to Travis Hughlett of Raymore, Missouri for providing his invaluable information on Kunsan Harbor through his narratives, maps and photos. Thanks to Dennis C. Ambrose of Black River, NY for his narratives and photos. 
Port Area at Kunsan Harbor Compound Area: The compound area was the fenced off area that was occupied by the U.S. Army at Kunsan Harbor. The harbor was guarded by a combination of civilian and ROK Army guards as pilferage was a major problem.The barbed wire fence line stretched on the east from the base of Wolmyong Mountain to the wharf area approximately a little to the west of the ferry station. It encompassed the end of the rail lines. To the south towards the city, the barbed wire extended from the base of Wolmyong Mountain east past the rear of the Main HQ Building (Women's Hall annex) and then extended towards the harbor in a direct line until wharf. (See Map of 14th Trans Port Co..) There were two gates, the East and West Security Gates. Travis says that his offices at one time were in the Customs building. He said, "I believe on the south end of the customs bldg. was my headquarters. The left window was
where I had my desk." According to Travis, the Colonel's office was at the
rear of the building. Travis worked in this office with a Korean lady by the
name of Cho Bo-Be. Later Travis worked in the Main HQ building. The old Customs House is Gunsan’s best known—and best preserved—building from the treaty port/colonial era. Completed in 1908, the charming European-style building was designed by a German architect and built of red bricks imported from Belgium. OK, as far as colonial customs houses go, it ain’t Dublin, but it’s still nice. After Liberation, the building continued to be used as the customs house for Gunsan port, but requisitioned when the Korean War broke out. After the Korean War, the building was reclaimed for use by Korean Customs. In the 1960s, the building was used for storage of confiscated goods. Currently the building is empty and has been refurbished as
a tourist attraction with a museum. It is a excellent example of the Japanese construction dating from 1916. This building has been designated as "Memorial No. 87" by the Chollabuk-do Provincial government. Only one office is currently being
used in the structure.  Customs House used by 14th Trans Port (1955)
(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
 Customs House (2000)
(Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
 Travis Hughlett in door of Customs House (1955)
(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
 Customs House used by 14th Trans Port (2000)
(Courtesy of Kalani O'Sullivan)
 Customs House (1999) |  Customs dog kennels next to Customs House (2000) |
 Customs House area Travis worked in
Customs Official (Na Young-Gu) and Boram O'Sullivan
 Customs House interior
Note the high vaulted ceilings (2000)(Courtesty of Kalani O'Sullivan)
(Click on photos to Enlarge)Travis Hughlett continued, "The highrise south of that was where the px and south of
that was the chapel signed out to me. Across the hq. customs we had a large
bldg. that was the nco-em club. Combined with that was the postoffice. The
larger bldg. was the mess hall and across the street was the dispensary." He
later wrote that as the people dwindled the px, postoffice and chapel were
closed. He said, "Yes we had a PX for a while (as well as) a chapel, post office, (and)
nco (club) but these things went fast like ever thing else (once the war
ended)." To the south of the harbor front was the main area of the 14th Trans
Port co. The area was cordoned off with a barbed wire fence. The HQ and MP
buildings were located near the present day Customs House. They were across
the street and a little south of the Customs House. The HQ building and
Officer billets was located in a two-story structure. Next to the HQ building
was the two-story MP building and firehouse area. (In the picture below, the
the jeep is parked out front of the MP building. This MP building was built by
the Japanese and served as a bank under the Japanese rule.) The Military Police
security was not for personnel, but primarily for the safe guarding of the
goods in the warehouses. Likewise the firehouse's primary concern was to
safeguard the warehouse goods. The warehouses were spread over a five block
area and concentrated within three hundred yards of the dock front. There were
many open storage sheds used for temporary storage. There were ROK and GIs on
the west gate and the MPs on East gate to town. There were no civilian guards
used during these years. If one went south from the Customs House, turned right and went one block, he
would be in the the Enlisted Barracks area. The enlisted folks were billeted
in Quonset huts alongside the warehouses very near the Customs building. The
barracks area had Latrines and showers...a luxury that the people in Kunsan AB
didn't receive until 1953. The water was from the Japanese-built water supply
system that drew and filtered the water from the river. To the east of the
barracks area were warehouses. These warehouses exist today, but have been
extensively modified and converted into a discount mart. At the end of the
warehouses (and end of the fenceline) there was the air raid shelter which was
a natural cave in the hill. 
Air Raid Shelter (1954)
(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
(Click on photo to enlarge) | 
Air Raid Shelter (2002)
(Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
(Click on photo to enlarge) |
Across the street to the east of the Enlisted Barracks area was the small Mess
Hall, Post Office and NCO-EM club. These were small quonset hut structures
built for a very small unit. The Quonset huts are all gone and the area is now
filled with small manufacturing/repair shops. Nearer the main road the area
has many specialty fish restaurants for which Kunsan is famed, but closer to
the waterfront, the appearance of the buildings become more shabby and
dilapidated.  Original Officer's Mess and Partial EM quarters (1951).
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose)
(Click to enlarge)Main HQ Building: To the southeast of the barracks area was the Main headquarters building which
housed the Officer's mess starting in 1951 according to Dennis Ambrose. However, Travis Hughlett worked later in this building on the first floor in the front. As one entered the entryway, you would turn left to go to Travis' office area. Travis worked in this area next to the window with Miss Cho Bee-Bo. Next door to his office was the Commander's office. Down the hall was the Officers mess. This building was also the headquarters of the 63d Infantry Regiment 3rd Battalion Service Co. during the Occupation years (1947-1949). Today this building has been incorporated into the Kunsan Women's Hall as auxiliary rooms for civic or non-profit organizations (i.e., Rotary Club). The exterior has been resurfaced so the original gray color is gone. As one looks at the picture above, the warehouses to the right are gone and small shops or homes are on the street. On the hill to the left, is now a church on the top. The air-raid shelter cave was at the base of the hill and someone has built a house directly on the face of the hill and incorporated the cave into the structure -- probably for storage. Across the street was the enlisted barracks which are now all small shops or houses. Further down the road are some Japanese style warehouses. A few of the ends are still standing as part of the KOAX supermarket. At the end of the road, one will find the old Kunsan Hospital located to the left. If you turned right, it will lead you to the ferry station for Changhang.  Front of the HQ building. (2000)
(Click on image to enlarge) |  Right of front entry. New addition. (2000)
(Click on image to enlarge) |  Left of front entry. (2000)
(Click on image to enlarge) |  Front entry interior. (2000)
(Click on image to enlarge) |  South entry. Note prefab addition to roof flat top roof area. (2000)
(Click on image to enlarge) |  East side of building looking towards south end. (2000)
(Click on image to enlarge) |
KOAX Mart (Old Japanese Warehouse) | 
Houses where barracks used to be | 
HQ Building looking east
Towards KOAX Mart and Old Barracks | 
HQ Building looking north
Towards Harbor | |
HQ Bldg looking southWharf Area of Kunsan Harbor (2002)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
Dispensary Area (1953) (Travis Hughlett)
MP Building with Helicopter landing (1953) (Travis Hughlett) (NOTE: Travis stated that he had to guard the chopper used by an inspection team.)
To the east of this area was the East Gate between the warehouses. Though most
of the warehouses in the area have all been demolished, some remain in use.
View of Harbor area (1954)
Note HQ Bldg to far right. This area now all houses and small shops in 2000. (Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
Old Warehouses near Customs House Though most Korean War structures demolished, some warehouses survive. (2000) (Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
Warehouse area East Gate (Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
Now Haemang Road -- the main road. Old MP Bldg with red roof. (2000) (Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
HQ and MP Buildings. (Jeep in front of MP Building) (1954)
(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
Old MP Building now a Photo Reproduction shop. (2000) (Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
Warehouse near Inner Port (1954)
Ration Breakdown Warehouse
(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Warehouse falling apart, but still in use. (2000)
(Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
 HQ Building Front (1953)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose)
HQ Building Rear (1954)
(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)Dennis C. Ambrose provided some pics of the compound area. He wrote about the top left picture, "Looking toward HQ Bldg. (in background) Two buildings slightly forward (Quonset is medical) forgot what other one is (1951)." This means that the picture was taken looking towards the harbor. The dispensary is on the left. In the background are the typical Japanese warehouses with concrete ends with a peaked tiled roof. The "headquarters" building he refers to is the Main HQ building (Commander's office/administrative office/Officer's Mess). This building is now an annex of the Kunsan's Women's Hall. The bottom left is of the original motor pool (1951) which was later moved one block toward the dock area.
Looking toward HQ Bldg (bkgrnd)
Dispensary quonset hut (foreground).
(1951).(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose) |
Compound (1951) (Courtesy Dennis Ambrose) |
Original Motor Pool (1951). (Courtesy Dennis Ambrose) | 
Slit Trenches in Compound (1951) (Courtesy Dennis Ambrose) |
Wharf Area: The wharf area operations used coolie laborers to load and off-load the ships. All operations were at the three Pontoon Docks. The items were off-loaded directly onto trucks for transport to delivery. If intended for later delivery, the items were transferred to warehouses. If they were in bulk, the items would be broken down into specific units at the port in a "Ration Breakdown Warehouse" located on the east end of the wharf. After broken down, it would be distributed to the units by the 5th Mule Transport Squadron Detachment at Kunsan AB.  Crowd on dock (1954)
(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
(Click on image to enlarge)Oil tankers were off-loaded on the last pontoon dock inland. For many years after the war, the POL support to Kunsan AB was provided via an above-ground pipe line that was only operated when fuel was transferred due to pilferage by local nationals taping into the pipeline. The POL tanks were managed by a USAF POL specialist. The oil storage tanks are still in use by the ROK Army today, but nowadays, the POL for Kunsan AB is transferred from the deep-water storage tank farm in Outer Port (Wae-hang). Security was provided by ROK Army or civilian guards. The perimeter was rather small as it was bounded on one side by a mountain and on the other side by the harbor. Security could be concentrated on individual areas as loaded box cars or warehouses. Besides, pilferage usually occurred during loading-off-loading operations. Because of the wartime conditions, summary executions by ROK Army personnel for persons caught in off-limits locations -- such as the railyard -- was the norm. 
Pontoon Dock (1954)(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
 Pontoon Dock (2000)
(Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
Ferry Dock (1954) (Courtesy Travis Hughlett) (Click on image to enlarge)
Harbor Changhang Ferry Dock (2000)
(Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Ship Loading at Dock (1954)
(Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
Fishing boats at Dock (2000)
(Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
 Warehouse near HQ building At intersection of Railroad (Courtesy Travis Hughlett)
Area cleared in Spring 1999. Note Railroad switch in both pics (2000) (Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
Dennis C. Ambrose contributed a few photos of the wharf area that gives a good idea of problems dealing with the tidal conditions. The difference between high and low tide is about twenty feet. Thus any cargo ships caught in the harbor during off-loading when the tide went out would simply capsize. The photos are of a capsized ship at the wharf are an example of what could happen if a ship was caught when the tide went out. Because the tides would rise and fall to extremes, ships would wait off-shore until high tide and then enter the port. The ships swiftly off-loaded their cargo and then left the harbor. The loading and unloading was done using coolie labor at the three Japanese-built pontoon dock facilities. Each pontoon dock had a pivoting-ramp that would rise or fall dependent on the tide -- sort of like the float in a toilet. This area is now called inner-port (Nae-hang) and is being developed into a tourist area with a harbor walkway park that is now the scene of Seafood Festival and other events. As all cargo is now off-loaded at the deep-water facilities of the outer port (Wae-hang), the area is now only used for docking of the interisland ferries and fishing boat docks.  Capsized Boat (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose)
|  Capsized Boat (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose)
|
 Dock Area (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose)
|  Unloading at the Dock (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose)
(Click on image to enlarge)
|  Wharf area (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose) |  Wharf area (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose) |  Wharf area (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose) |  Wharf area (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose)
|
Pontoon Bridge (2002)
Sea Wall view of fishing boats (2000)
View of Kunsan Harbor towards Changhang (2000)
Railhead Area: The port facilities are described as the "delivery area" in Kunsan Air Base
literature. The supplies shipped by rail were sent directly to Kunsan Air Base
by the 14th Trans Port com, but any shipments from the port by ships were
picked up by the USAF 5th Motor Transport Squadron. Vice versa, the people at the port had to go to Kunsan AB to pick up their
mail (that came in by air) and beer (that came in by train as part of the
exchange system). (NOTE: While the troops were fighting on the Pusan
perimeter, free beer was provided U.S. soldiers on much the same basis as candy
bars and cigarettes. It had been purchased with appropriated money and issued
at intervals as supplementary to the food ration. It was stopped on 12 Sept 50
due to pressure from Congress and temperance groups. In South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu (p485) it stated, "Eight Army troops could obtain beer purchased only with
non-appropriated funds and issued through the post exchanges." This applied to
Kunsan as well. The manager of the BX in 1952 mentioned have a monthly supply
of two boxcars of "green" 3.2 beer.)  ROK Army guarding a train (1952)
Courtesy Gene Newman
|  Unloading Flatbed rail cars (1954)
Courtesy Travis Hughlett
|
 Loading railcars at Warehouse (1951)
(Courtesy Dennis Ambrose)
All heavy freight transportation in-country was by rail. Spearhead of Logistics (p310) states, in August 1950, the 3d Transportation Military Railway Service
(TMRS) assumed control of all railway operations. Upon assuming control of the
railways, the 3d TMRS had "responsibility for 270 miles of railroad, 280
locomotives, 4,300 freight cars and 450 passenger cars, all in varying states
of disrepair." By the end of 1952, the rail system was moving over 153,000
tons and 19,500 passengers per week. During the last year of the conflict,
monthly freight movements more than doubled, averaging about 1,250 million
short tons and 300,000 passengers per month." However, the movement and
control of trains lacked central guidance. "No organization was established to
centrally plan or prioritize the use of rail cars. Little effort was made to
prioritize cargo, coordinate multi-stop rail service, or even coordinate the
unloading and loading in forward areas. The lack of centralized control of the
various modes of transport was a systemic problem in an already overburdened
transport system." The railroad was the predominant mode of transportation support in Korea. "The
problem with rail was twofold. Enemy interdiction and sabotage could
significantly alter the rail system's ability to support front line soldiers.
Secondly, although rail transport was and remained the most economical way for
moving large tonnages on land, rail lines in Korea could only move supplies up
to a certain point. After rail cars reached the furthest railhead, truck
transport or Korean laborers had to complete the movement to division supply
dumps." In Kunsan's case, much of the transportation was handled by truck to
the base by the 5th Motor Squadron. Bombs and munitions was fed to the base on
a separate rail line to the 3rd Supply Squadron's Ammo Dump on the south side
of Kunsan Air Base. Thievery was a major problem. For example, when the 809th Engineering Aviation
Battalion moved to Chunchon in 1952, they used the rail system...and assigned
guards to their equipment. In addition, when the Marines moved from Kunsan to
Pyongtaek in 1953, they used C-119 aircraft for their test benches, but
everything else went by rail. Again the Marines posted their own guards.
There is also a story of a 3rd Communications Squadron switchboard operator who
misrouted a call that resulted in a delay for a rescue boat being dispatched.
As punishment, he ended up as a guard on the Kunsan supply trains and regaled
his friends with his stories of fighting off "bandits" along the route from
Pusan to Kunsan. In Air Power, The Decisive Force in Korea (p229) it states, "But when units moved from one location to another,
equipment had to be transported primarily by the weird Korean rail system.
Without guards for each piece of equipment, thieves would remove every part
they possibly could before it arrived at its destination. At times equipment
was in such condition upon arrival at its destination that it had to be
salvaged." Closing down and Going Home:: Travis said, "Inchon is where we went after we had closed out the 21st. When
we got there we were routed back home, we were on Wolmido Island. At Inchon,
we were in Tent City." After Travis left, the fenced off areas were removed and the flow of traffic
started around the end of Wolmyong mountain versus through the Wolmyong tunnel.
Later, this road would be expanded and the tunnel closed to vehicular traffic
in the 1980s. The buildings reverted to the Korean Customs and Immigration
Branch. The Headquarters buildings were used for a time, but torn down. The
Customs house was used as offices in the 1960s, but in the mid-1960s when new
offices were built, the Customs house was used as a storage area for
confiscated contraband. The Customs House remains today with only one office
in use. It has been listed as a Provincial cultural asset. The closure of the port was swift, but control of the tactical pipeline for
fuel was handed over to Kunsan Air Base. The fuel would be off-loaded and
stored in the fuel tanks (maintained and guarded by the ROK Army). However, in
Taking Command by John Moench, a fuel scandal in 1959 is described. It was
discovered that the fuel was siphoned into the Korean tanks with the assistance
of a bribed USAF sergeant. Basically, pipes were set up to divert part of the
flow to the Korean storage tank. No one would have discovered this except that
when the sergeant went home, he did not remove the pipes. However, the U.S.
had no jurisdiction for such a crime that occurred off-base. Kunsan Inner Port Area Today: Presently, the main entrance to Naehang (Inner Port) is about three blocks
east of the Customs House. On the road into the Inner Port area from the main
road, the "Centennial Park" is on one's immediate right. It was constructed in
1998 to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of Kunsan Harbor. About about one block down, one will cross a railroad track. The railroad stopped running to this area long ago after the outer port facilities were developed. The railroad tracks in the area are covered over in places with dirt to make garden patches. Hidden from the main road the area two in are rather rundown and seedy looking. To the right will be an
old warehouse that is falling apart, but still in use. This was the "Ration
Breakdown Warehouse" in 1955. Across the tracks one will enter the Inner Port
area. To the right will be a pontoon dock that has been in use since the
1930s. Curiously, in the Korean War period, there was a "No Smoking" sign
painted on the Pontoon bridge in English -- though there were relatively few
Americans stationed in the port. All the structures adjacent to the harbor front have been removed to make way
for a planned promenade -- similar to the tourist attractions at Inchon. With the open area, more and more events are being held in this area each year. For example, the annual Kunsan Seafood festival continues to grow in size with a variety of exhibits and food booths lining the wharf area. 
Boram O'Sullivan at Ferry Station | 
Kunsan Harbor looking to Changhang | 
Wharf area | 
Wharf area | 
Wharf area | 
Wharf area | 
Wharf area | 
Pontoon Bridge 3 |
Wharf Area of Kunsan Harbor (2002)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Courtesy Kalani O'Sullivan)
Wolmyong Mountain and Surrounding area On Wolmyong Mountain a "North Korean village" sprang up as refugees poured into Kunsan. The mud wattle houses surrounded the area around the Haemanggul Tunnel. This area was known as Sinheung-dong. (SITE NOTE: For 2007 photos of the houses in the area by Robert Koehler go to Kunsan City.)
Wolmyong Mountain looking down on Camp area (1953) (Travis Hughlett)
Road Up Wolmyong Mountain (1953) (Travis Hughlett)
Haemanggul Tunnel (Robert Kohler) (Sep 2006)
On the mountainside, there was a reservoir that provide the water for the Kunsan City area. The water system was gravity-fed.
Road Up Wolmyong Mountain (1953) (Travis Hughlett)
The two refugee camps were nothing more than old warehouses stuffed with people surviving on a small ration of coal and barely enough food to survive. Conditions were so poor that many resorted to scavenging through the waste dumps from the camps for food. Around these areas many squatter shacks were built -- as refugees flocked to Kunsan to seek work to survive.
Squatter's homes along the harbor shore. (SITE NOTE: This appears to be on the side facing Changhang as the landmark smokestack can be vaguely seen in the background across the harbor.)
The neighborhood around the camp used to be home to Kunsan's once sizable Japanese expat community. Kunsan, like most of Korea's other ports, was essentially a product of Japanese colonial planning. After it was opened to international trade in 1899, the town became especially important as a port of exit for Korean rice exports to Japan. Japanese traders, merchants and plantation owners settled in the area. In this area, there was the Japanese Buddhist temple, Dongguk-sa. The temple, built in the Edo-period style, used to cater to the spiritual needs of the once large Japanese commercial community of Gunsan. The temple has been designated a cultural property by the Korean Cultural Properties Administration. The structure was built in the Japanese fashion without nails. It was located near the Haemong Tunnel, but was later relocated to its current location when an elementary school was built for the North Korean children in the 1970s.
Dongguk Temple altar (Travis Hughlett) (1953)
Dongguk Temple altar (Robert Kohler) (Sep 2006) (SITE NOTE: If compare this with the 1953 photo above concentrating on the left altar, the support beams are the same and the same table used in 1953 is still used for the buddha image today.)
For comments or inputs, contact Kalani O'Sullivan.NOTICE/DISCLAIMER: The content of this page is unofficial and the views and
opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of anyone associated with
this page or any of those linked from this site. All opinions are those of the
writer and are intended for entertainment purposes only. Links to other web
pages are provided for convenience and do not, in any way, constitute an
endorsement of the linked pages or any commercial or private issues or products
presented there. None of this site has been endorsed by the DOD, the Air Force,
the 8th Fighter Wing or Mickey Mouse. All Air Force links are publicly
accessible through the world-wide web. When eye-witness accounts conflict with
OFFICIAL DOD materials, this website opts to lend credence to the people who
were there.
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