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HOW IT WAS!KUNSAN AIRBASE(1945-1952)Occupation Forces: Camp Hillenmeyer (1945-1949) Korean Constabulary (1949-1950) Page 4 of 6 |
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Camp Hillenmeyer & Kunsan City (1947):Acknowledgment: Special thanks to Mr. James Wilt, formerly a clerk in Hq & Hq Company, 63rd Infantry, Camp Hillenmeyer (1947-48), for the following xerox photos (mailed to Dr. Fred Ottoboni).  Camp Hillenmeyer and
Kunsan City street scenes
(Click on the photo to enlarge) Camp Hillenmeyer scenes (1947) -- Aerial views of the camp
Kunsan City scenes (1947) -- Tunnel; Buddhist temple at Wolmyong Park; street scenes
Kunsan City scenes (1947) -- Street scenes; Honey wagon
Kunsan City scenes (1947) -- Street scenes; Country house (choga jip)
Camp Hillenmeyer (1947) -- Beach line; Airstrip
63rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion:Officer's family tour (1946 - 1947):Acknowledgment: Special thanks to Robert E. Grenig (Lt. Col., USA, Ret.) and his wife, Betty, of Scottsdale, Arizona for their photos and materials of their tour at Camp Hillenmeyer. A special thank you to their son, Jay Grenig of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for his narrative accounts of Camp Hillenmeyer. Thank you to James C. Richards, Col. USAF (Ret) for his reminiscences of his time as a dependent at Camp Hillenmeyer in 1947.
Captain Grenig and Family: The young Captain Grenig -- then regimental S1 and later regimental S3 -- and came to Kunsan via the Philippines and Okinawa in July 1946. He was joined by his family (wife, son, and daughter) in the winter of 1947. The family departed for the Philippines in late 1947. The Grenig's, now in their 80s, revisited Kunsan after 50 years in September 1999. He said in a note to me after his visit, "...It is hard to believe the changes in Kunsan in the last 50+ years. It is a good thing the tunnel (Wolmyong Park) is still there to provide a point of reference." (SITE NOTE: Jul 2007: The "Colonel," Robert Grenig, passed away in Scottsdale, AZ in 2004 and was survived by his wife, Betty.)
Their son, Jay Grenig, wrote in an email, "My first memory of a building is a Quonset hut in Hillenmeyer; first car, an Army jeep in Korea. Because of time in post-war Korea and Philippines, I assumed everyone's father carried a .45 automatic. I know now these memories are not the norm!"
He continued, "I understand we went from Seattle to Japan by military transport (ocean-type) and then from Japan to Korea by LST. I'm still trying to find out where we landed and how we got to Kunsan. We did get there around February and my 2-year old sister had frozen feet. I had my fourth birthday there and am told I spoke Korean as well as I spoke English. Now I only remember "no" "bathroom" and "excuse me."
In another email, Jay described his trip to Kunsan as follows, "My mother, sister (age 1 1/2) and me (almost age four) joined him (Col. Grenig) in Korea in the winter of 1947. We took a 19-day trip by ship from Seattle to Inchon. At Inchon we took the train to Iri (sorry about the spelling). We then went by jeep to Camp Hillenmeyer. My earliest memory is that trip to Inchon (it was awful!) and riding in a jeep. I don't remember the train ride. My sister suffered from frozen feet." The elder Grenigs confirmed these fact about his trip and added that there was no passenger train service to Kunsan in 1947. Though there were train tracks to the port for freight, all passenger trains stopped in Iri (Iksan) and people were trucked/jeeped to Kunsan.
Incheon Landings from Air (8 Sep 1945) (US Navy) (NOTE: The scene in Incheon in 1947 was not much different as the family had to disembark the ship climbing down rope ladders strung over the side.)
The October 1946 "Information for Dependents in Korea" brochure stated, "Due to the lack of docking facilities for transports at Jinsen, it is necessary to drop anchor off shore and debark by use of smaller landing craft. ... After necessary passenger checks have been made, dependents will be loaded into small landing craft and proceed ashore. ... The trip from the harbor by train to various housing areas affords an excellent opportunity to view Korean life and customs as the route winds inland through several small Korean villages. ... As dependents detrain at the various towns along the route, motor transportation will be used to complete the remainder of the journey to their new homes." From Jay's description of his sister's feet, it is obvious the Grenig family experienced "the excellent opportunity to view Korean life" with its unheated trains and the harshness of the Korean winters.
The 1946 transportation system was very poor. Then-Capt. Grenig, Adjutant of the the 63rd Infantry Regiment, described it in his letter to dependents dated 11 September 1946. It stated. "Railroad service may be had to almost any point in Southern Korea. The schedules are poor and it is often very difficult to make connections with other trains. At the present time no bus services is in operation. The quickest, though not the easiest riding, method of travel is by privately owned or Government motor vehicle. Air travel is limited to emergency use or official business only."
Jay Grenig recounted some of his father's comments about the conditions in 1946. "He (Col. Grenig) says that as a result of floods in 1946 that washed out roads and railroads, the Korean people suffered horribly. causing In addition, it was hard for supplies to get through to the Regiment. He remembers eating Vienna sausages and dehydrated eggs week after week after week. As Fred (Ottoboni) remembers, basic items were not available in the PX. If it weren't for the Red Cross, no toothpaste or soap." The severity of the weather conditions in 1945-46 are described in history books as "record breaking". In addition, the history books tell of shortages of food, fuel, clothing, electricity, and other consumer goods, coupled with rapidly rising unemployment rate. It's apparent that the people were suffering greatly in 1946.
The October 1946 information brochure stated, "At present the food situation in Korea is critical and only food furnished by the Quartermaster is available. It is recommended that there be no consumption of locally produced vegetables or meat. Food found on the Korean market is raised on soil fertilized with "nite soil" (human feces) which precludes its use. ... All water must be considered unsafe for drinking, cooking, or washing of teeth, except that which comes from Army approved sources. Other water must be boiled or chlorinated before use." It continues, "Use only food obtained from Army commissary or post exchanges. All native produce should be considered contaminated. It is especially dangerous to eat any uncooked native produce or seafood. All Korean public eating and drinking places are unsafe and must not be patronized."
The September 1946 Information letter stated, "In the 6th Infantry Division Zone, it is planned to have one Quartermaster Commissary established in Pusan. Dependents will make a weekly requisition which will be consolidated for each area and submitted to the Regimental Supply Officer. He will in turn forward these requisitions to the Commissary where they will be filled, placed on a train and shipped to the I-ri Supply Point. These supplies will be broken down and distributed to the individuals. ... The only authorized source of food will be this Commissary." The elder Grenigs confirmed that the food requisition went out once a month to Pusan and food was received in frozen bulk and divided up between the families. For example, hamburger came in 5 pound packs.
The letter continued on to state, "Periodic immunizations will be given for Small Pox, Typhus, Plague, Cholera, Typhoid, and Jap B. Encephalitis. All of these diseases are prevalent in this area and continuous precautions must be taken. The heads of each household should immediately instruct his dependents in Malaria control and discipline." Though the incidence of these diseases are still around, they have been greatly reduced.
Camp Hillenmeyer Dependent Housing (1947) The photo above is of Betty Grenig and her 18-month old daughter in the "front yard" of their quarters. The quarters were built by Koreans with Japanese war reparations materials. Betty Grenig recollects the electricity was supplied by North Korea and it was very unpredictable...perhaps a few hours at night before it was shut off. She also remembers that the plumbing didn't work right.
Jay Grenig stated, "The houses were built by Korean labor using Japanese materials. The plan for the officers' housing (of which I understand some is still in use) was a standardized plan for housing in Japan and Korea. We lived in a similar (albeit two-story) house with the same floor plan in Japan four years later. Conditions were terrible. The plumbing didn't work well. (Took a bath in a washtub in the kitchen.) Cold. No commissary. Officer wives would get food in bulk through supply and divide it up." The elder Grenigs confirmed this description of the poor housing conditions and inadequacy of the food requisitioning system on their visit to Kunsan.
Later Jay Grenig related, "Mom told story of General Hodge visiting Camp Hillenmeyer and asking what
wives needed. Mom (only a 20-something then) spoke up and said refrigerators, stoves, and cupboards for dishes, etc. would be great. (Dishes, etc. kept on floor--no cupboards or other furniture in "kitchen.")
Mom cooked on top of oil space heater. Hodge sent tiny refrigerators that didn't work well and coal/woodburning iron cook stoves. Every story adds to my admiration of my mother and the other dependents who survived those terrible times. Probably even worse for Koreans with rice famine."
During the Grenig's stay at Camp Hillenmeyer, recreation was limited to periodic "moving pictures" and USO shows about once a month. Hunting was possible, but the military weapons were inappropriate. According to the Col. Grenig, shotguns were procured to hunt the flocks of geese that abounded in the area. However, they seemed to know Americans. Col. Grenig states that Koreans could walk through the geese and nothing happened, but when an American would show up with a shotgun, they would all fly away. He also mentioned that there were ring-necked pheasants (which are still plentiful today). There is a curious note in the September 1946 Information letter which states, "Hunting - deer, ducks, geese, TIGER and wild boar. Licenses may be obtained through the Adjutant 63d Infantry Regiment." The Adjutant happened to be then-Capt. Grenig...and what happened to the tigers?
Camp Hillenmeyer Base Chapel (1947) -- Converted quonset hut to service the needs of the men.
Regimental Headquarters (1946) -- No frills.
Regimental Officer's Quarters (November 1946) -- Showers and latrines were a 100 yards away. Then-Capt Grenig wrote in September 1946, "very little snow falls in this area during winter months. ... The mean temperature is...approximately 25 degrees during the winter. Naturally the degree of temperature depends upon the exposure to the prevailing ocean winds." To this day, the winters in Kunsan have little snow, but are miserable due to the high humidity and wind-chill factor when the winds blow in off the sea.
Main Street in Kunsan City -- Picture most likely taken near present-day Wolmyong Park. Col. Grenig confirmed this during his visit to Kunsan in September 1999.
Aerial view of Camp Hillenmeyer -- Facing west. To the right is the dependent housing. In the center is what is now Gunsmoke Hill. In the background is the Okku Reservoir with the road from the base leading to it. The Japanese sod runway is to the right of this photo. The rice paddies in the foreground are on the seaward side of the base.
Aerial view of Camp Hillenmeyer -- Fred Ottoboni comments, "Look at the row of Quonsets facing the road that runs diagonally from the upper center to the picture on an angle to the lower the left edge. The first set of about 8 Quonsets starting from the top is Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 63rd Infantry. Starting in mid-1947 the first hut was assigned to the 508th Engineer Utility Detachment. I lived in there.
Following down the road to the left the next clump of about 7 huts is Company E. The rows of huts directly behind E Company are F, G, and H. Continuing down the road toward the left edge, the next clump is Company I (item), 3rd Bn. The rows behind Co. I (which are not visible in the photo) are Companies K and M. Company L, at the time, was living in an old monastery in Kunsan and doing permanent guard duty out of the old KCC Building in Kunsan."
Aerial view of Camp Hillenmeyer -- The photos are taken from a single-engine utility aircraft capable of landing on the dirt airstrip. The lower left-hand corner is what is now known as Gunsmoke Hill. On the hill are 3 rows of 5 buildings each. These became the Senior Officer quarters. They still exist today, though upgraded and refurbished. To the right are the Dependent quarters. These became the BOQs during the Korean War, but have all been demolished. (A photo of this plane is seen in the photos of Mr. James Wilt above.)
Lt. Col. Fred W. Richards and Family: The following is an email we received from James C. Richards, Col., USAF (Ret) in May 2003 of his experiences at Camp Hillenmeyer:
I enjoyed the references in the website to Camp Hellenmeyer, near Kunsan,
Korea. I lived there, and remember it well. I was one of the dependents.
My father was Lt Col Fred W. Richards. I believe he commanded one of the
infantry battalions.
My mother took us to Korea from Reading, Pa. We flew to San Francisco in a
DC-3, then by ship, a voyage which took almost six weeks, via Japan to
Inchon. I believe it was a liberty ship. We went over on the USS Altman,
and back on the USS Mayo, or vice versa. I remember some very rough weather
enroute during which we all became quite seasick.
Then we went by Jeep to
Kunsan, where we moved into one of the brand new dependent houses. My mother
cooked on a wood burning stove. She had a full time maid, named Pak San.
Pak San evidently had worked for some soldiers before, because her language
was very foul. Mom corrected here all the time, much to my amusement. My
Mom was really the hero of the operation, having taken us on such a voyage.
My sisters were 5 and 6, and I was 8. Went to a one room school, taught by
one of the older dependent daughters using a correspondence course. My
father was also the president of the school board.
It was very exciting for me. I went to work with my Dad a lot, to the
firing range, in the barracks, and got to know a lot of the soldiers. They,
in turn, took me to the field (with Dad's permission) occasionally. I
remember the long power outages, mentioned in the web article, and the tidal
mud flats, into which I wandered from time to time, much to the chagrin of
my parents. I also remember the Korean people and how kind and friendly
they were. One of my sisters and I had blonde hair, and the Koreans loved
to touch it and giggle. I recall how poverty stricken many of them were,
and how Mom gave them some food and clothing frequently. I believe we lived
there two years.
Later in life, I became an Air Force officer, and traveled to Korea
occasionally. What a difference the interim period made in the progress of
that nation!
Thanks for the great website. I have a great black and white photo of the
housing area, labeled "Camp Helenmeyer, 1947. I'll be happy to e-mail it to
you, if you wish.
Sincerely,
James C. Richards
Col., USAF (Ret)
(SITE NOTE: If Col Richards should stop by this site again, we ask him to please contact us or Jay Grenig as other Camp Hillenmeyer dependents would like to touch base with you on memories of that time.)
63rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion:Information for Dependents (11 September 1946):Acknowledgment: Thanks to Robert E. Grenig (Lt. Col., USA, Ret.) of Scottsdale, Arizona for providing the following materials on the conditions at Kunsan in 1946.
Then-Captain Grenig, the 63rd Infantry Regiment Adjutant, wrote a information letter to military dependents entitled "Information for Dependents" (dated 11 September 1946). The dependents would be housed in the new dependent quarters built on Camp Hillenmeyer. His wife and children were to be among this group. The letter provides some insights to the 63rd's mission and the conditions existing in Korea at the time. The country was in a state of chaos and this tour was not going to be a picnic. Excerpts from his letter below are highlighted in yellow.
"Korea is not considered as a conquered territory, but is being occupied by United States Armed Forces only until such a time as the Koreans become a self-governing people. The mission of the Army is to assist the Koreans in attaining this goal. ... The local civilian police are used to maintain law and order among the civilians. Unlike police in conquered countries, the Korean Police have the power of arrest over American and civilian personnel."(Site Note from A History of the Korean People by Andrew C. Hahn: The outcome of the American occupation of South Korea was quite dissimilar from that of the American occupation of Japan. Having no clear-cut policy or plans for Korea, the American occupation left behind no particular imprints, or notable accomplishments. When the Americans ended their occupation, South Korea was unstable, socially chaotic, and an economically bankrupt country. The truth was that the majority of the Americans in Korea lost interest in helping the Koreans and simply wished to go home. To most American GI's, Korea was simply "a piece of worthless real estate," and they totally lacked concern for the Korean people's future.
The Soviets, on the other hand, achieved much more in North Korea, although they too had no policy or plans for Korea in the early stage of their occupation. In contrast to the Americans in the south, the Soviets promoted cordiality with North Korean leaders. established coherent political structure, and fostered a well-equipped military force capable of launching an aggressive war to unify the divided country.
The inherent weakness of South Korea, particularly its military weakness, coupled with certain steps taken by the U.S. government, contributed to North Korea's launching of the war. In the first place, the U.S., because of President Truman's demilitarization program, withdrew U.S. troops from South Korea in 1949 without adequatelhy preparing South Korean troops to defend their national territory. The U.S. regarded South Korea strategically less important than Greece, Italy, and Iran in dealing with Soviet expansionism.
Secondly, President Truman did not believe that the Soviet Union would permit a North Korean invasion for military conquest of the entire peninsula. He believed that the Soviets would continue their efforts through infiltration and underground activities.
Above all, the U.S. government -- specifically Secretary of State, Dean Acheson -- wanted to make Korea a testing ground for the policy of containment of the United States, and therefore misled the North Koreans to believe that the U.S. had abandoned South Korea. Some dispute this idea of Dean Acheson's intent. However, the fact remains that Dean Acheson, knowingly or unwittingly, stated that the American defense perimeter stretched from the Aleutians to the Ryukus (Japan) -- leaving South Korea unprotected -- and followed this by the announcement that Congress had cut off aid to South Korea. This sent a clear message to Kim Il-Sung in North Korea that it was an opportune time to attack and he began his preparations for war.
At least six warnings of a possible invasion was sent to Washington between October 1949 and June 1950 from General MacArthur or General Hodge, but were either ignored or they were only given cursory attention. Then on a Sunday morning on 25 June 1950, North Korea attacked.)
"Industries have not been developed to any extent in Southern Korea. What little industry that is to be found was developed by Japanese Interests and is being turned over to Koreans for operation. This transition has been slow and very few products are reaching the market."
(Site note from A History of the Korean People by Andrew C. Hahn: In 1946, South Korea was in economic chaos after the collapse of Japanese rule and partition of the country. Before the division of Korea, the south had been primarily an agricultural region, producing 63 percent of the nation's food grains, and containing most of the country's light industry and about 24 percent of heavy industry.
Almost all electric power had been generated by the hydroelectric plants on the Yalu and other rivers (with only 0.5 percent in the south) and the entire supply of chemical fertilizer came from the Japanese-established plant at Hungnam on the northeast coast. When the northern supply of chemical fertilizer stopped, farm production in south declined sharply, creating a serious food shortage. Because of the lack of power, many industrial plants were shut down.)
"The scarcity of food and other consumer commodities has caused a great inflation in this country. Although the official exchange rate is fifteen Yen to one American dollar, the actual value in commodities is only about one hundred to one hundred and fifty Yen to one dollar."
(Site note from A History of the Korean People by Andrew C. Hahn: Basically, the country's money was worthless as the Japanese issued bank notes in enormous amounts before the end of their colonial rule...and the trend continued after they were gone. The "yen" was the monetary unit in 1946 as Korea transitioned to the "won".
Many factories in the south were closed due to the shortage of skilled workers, technicians, electric power, and raw materials, making the economic situation worse. Moreover, the influx of some 1.5 million refugees from China, Manchuria, Japan, and North Korea in 1945-1946 caused additional problems. The rapid population growth increased the housing shortage as well as shortages of essential commodities, resulting in many social problems. As a sense of frustration overwhelmed the people, moral and ethical standards declined.
In 1946, an eyewitness reported: the "situation is getting worse. There is rampant inflation. Consumer goods and coal are virtually nonexistent. Food distribution is inequitable. ... Transportation equipment is breaking down. Unemployment is rising to dangerous proportions. ... Hunger is rapidly spreading and will probably result in starvation in many areas by midsummer.")
"Korean cities are a mixture of old Korean and modern Japanese. The typical ancient Korean towns or sections consist of narrow, crooked streets and irregular blocks, densely covered with small houses and courtyards, whereas the more modern Japanese residential sections are more nearly "Stateside"."
"The principal cities of this area are, Chonju (pop. 80,000), the capital of Cholla Pukto Province; Kunsan (pop. 60,553), Korea's sixth ranking port; and I-ri (pop. 50,000), a large rail terminal. These cities, however, do not compare in any way with those of similar size in the United States."
(Site Note: The population of Chonju is now 1.2 million. Kunsan is about 350,000. Iri (now Iksan) has a population of about 400,000. And they still do not compare to similar size towns in the U.S. If you ask a Kunsan citizen, he will tell you that Kunsan is a "small, country town" -- even though it has major industrial plants and a large population.)
"The principal occupation is rice farming. These farmers are generally poorly educated, and still believe in "Evil Spirits". They have many strange religious customs. It is not unusual to see many colorful banners hanging in the rice paddies or in the courtyards of their homes. These are supposed to drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune to the family."
(Site Note: The banners are gone from the rice fields, but Shamanism continues to play a valued role in the lives of the people. Fortune tellers are still consulted over marriage matches, business decisions, or other important matters. The "kut" (Shaman ceremony) has become a tourist event in the Puyo area sponsored by the Chollabuk-do government. A hog's head with money stuffed in its mouth is part of opening a new business. What we call "superstition" can easily be called "tradition" by others. Christianity and Shamanism coexist side-by-side in the Korean society, Though no one openly admits to a belief in it, no one transgresses on the beliefs either.
Another change that has occurred is that the young people have left the farms and now only older (60+ age group) are all that's left on the farm. Farming is a hard and uncertain life, while the factories provided good wages -- and a seemingly secure future. That is until the IMF conditions hit Korea. A few years ago, there was a quote in the Far Eastern Economic Digest about the Korean farm villages that sticks in my mind. It said the villages are "filled with graves and old people waiting to get there." That is the current state of the farms in Korea. Many farm houses lie deserted and only old people are left on the farms.)
"Many Koreans have become Christians. Catholic and Protestant Missionaries have made great strides in converting these people to Christianity and at the same time have tried to teach them the meaning of sanitation."
(Site Note: The period right after WWII was a very unsanitary time. Honey pots lined the road along the rice paddies. The smells were horrific. The water and vegetables fertilized with human waste was unfit for American consumption. Streams were where clothes were washed, water obtained for cooking and waste was disposed of. Disease and sickness were rampant. The Baptist Missionary Hospital in Chonju combined Christianity and a much needed service to the community. Later when the North Korean communists overran the area some members of the hospital were murdered for their Christian beliefs.
Today in Korea, one will see a church in every hamlet -- even though they only have ten houses. If you look out of your hotel room in Seoul, the skyline is lit with crosses. In Korea, churches are everywhere, but the size may vary from large Catholic churches to tiny one room meeting halls above the butcher shop. In recent years there has been much discussion over the fanatic fringe of the Christian groups -- such as doom's day cults. Ironically, the Reverend Moon and his "moonies" are considered by most Koreans a strong religious/business force rather than a cult -- though many cringe at his 1000+ wedding extravaganzas in the Seoul Olympic Stadium.)
"A practically unlimited supply of untrained labor will be available for domestic help."
"The attitude of the average Korean towards the America is very friendly. However, there are several groups who believe Korea should have been freed on V-J day and never occupied. Their resentment is obvious but seldom forceful."
(Site note from A History of the Korean People by Andrew C. Hahn: In 1946, one such group that resented the Americans was the Communists and Socialists. They flourished with the new freedoms after the liberation -- especially in the Cholla provinces. They established their political organizations and publications -- with the goal of unifying under the leadership of North Korea.
However. by October 1946, General Hodge had lost patience with the Communists who caused serious problems in South Korea and ordered the arrests of key Communist leaders of the South Korean Workers' Party. Widespread Communist-inspired strikes and riots in souther cities ensued. Riots in Taegu and Chonju and other cities in South Cholla Province were particularly serious as more than 2,000 Communists were arrested. Some 1,500 were prosecuted, 500 were convicted, and 16 sentenced to death. Key Communists fled to North Korea.
With the U.N.-held elections of May 1948 (and the inauguration of the Republic of Korea on 15 August 1948), the Communist troubles flared anew. The Communists who opposed the UN sponsored elections in South Korea instigated a rebellion on Cheju Island. The Cheju Rebellion from April 1948 to the spring of 1949, resulted in the deaths of at least 30,000 people. An army regiment in Yosu in South Cholla Province, which was ordered to go to Cheju Island to subjugate the rebels, carried out an insurrection on October 1948. The Communist-led mutiny which began in Yosu spread into other areas, including Sunchon, leading to the deaths of 1,200 civilians and South Korean troops, 1,500 rebels and their supporters and much property damage.
In April 1949, the remanents of the rebels fled into the Chiri mountains and were joined by North Korean guerillas. They established three bases (in the Chiri mountains, Odae mountains, and Andong area). In October 1949, some 3,000 guerillas and several hundred local supporters launched a winter offensive against such large towns as Andong, Chinju, and Pohang. Though they failed to occupy the towns, the stage was set for the Korean War.
Additional Site note: To this day, some Koreans still fault General Hodge for the brutality and manner in which the rebellion was put down...though he was not directly involved in the actions. One of these voices is "Kimsoft" on the net. Though General Hodges was not directly involved in the actions, evidence does point to his offices selecting key Korean officers to carry out the brutal campaigns. The main focus appears to be that General Hodges wanted the rebellion put down -- by any means -- to prevent a drawn out conflict that would have prevented the Americans from withdrawing from Korea.) |
HOW IT WAS:
KUNSAN AERODROME
(1949-1951) |
KOREAN CONSTABULARY:Acknowledgment: Thanks to Dr. Fred Ottoboni for his notes on Camp Hillenmeyer and the transition to the Korean Constabulary; and HQ PACAF History Office for the information on Kunsan Airbase when it reopened in 1951. In 1948, the Americans were closing down their operations in Korea and began to turn Camp Hillenmeyer over to the Korean Constabulary forces (the forerunner of the ROK Army). According to Dr. Ottoboni's book, Korea Between the Wars -- A Soldier's Story, in February 1948, "F & G Companies are being replaced with Korean Constabulary. About 400 Korean soldiers are going to move into F & G Co's Thursday. They are going to pull guard and other duties that will make it easier on the GI's. The camp is finally going to close up and the 63rd deactivated. In spite of everything there aren't enough men to hold the camp... P.E. is building boxes like mad as everything has to be crated and shipped out. The place is supposed to be vacant by the end of March." It was taken off the books as an American military installation on June 16, 1950. The Constabulary was the predecessor of the ROK Army.
It was hastily thrown together by the U.S. Military Government in preparation for the withdrawal from Korea -- come-hell-or-highwater. The Communists not happy with the 1948 national elections staged a rebellion that quickly spread. The Cheju Rebellion from April 1948 to the spring of 1949, resulted in the deaths of at least 30,000 people. On 19 October 1948, Communists within the ROK Army's 14th Regiment mutineed after receiving orders to embark for Cheju Island to support counterinsurgency operations. The mutineers killed 30 officers and between 600 to 800 soldiers joined the rebellion. The Communist-led mutiny which began in Yosu quickly spread into other areas, including Sunchon, leading to the deaths of 1,200 civilians and South Korean troops, 1,500 rebels and their supporters and much property damage. The rebels and supporters were advancing on Kwangju and Chonju before being stopped by government troops. An amphibious assault on Yosu failed and it took three days of intense fighting from inland to recapture the town on 26 October 1948.
The ROK Army investigated the incident and released its report after the U.S. had pulled out. It blamed the rebellion on the "incautious recruiting by the former Military Government." However, the report overlooked political factionalism, organizational weaknesses and material deficiencies as causes to the unrest. Widespread purges and arrests occurred that reduced the ROK Army strength from 54,000 to 45,000 in the space of two months. (NOTE: The ROK Army banned the use of the number "4" in any unit due to the mutinous actions of the 14th Regiment.)
In 1949 the U.S. pulled all of its combat troops out of Korea, leaving only a Military Advisory Group in an area called "ASCOM City," an acronym for Army Service Command City. The "city" was a former Japanese arsenal area west of Seoul (in Pupyong) that had been taken over by the United States forces on September 16, 1945. ASCOM served as an army supply center while American forces occupied South Korea. In the period between mid-1949, when the last American forces were withdrawn, and June 1950, the start of the Korean war, ASCOM City was used by the American Military Advisory Group in Korean and the South Korean Army.
In April 1949, the remanents of the rebels fled into the Chiri mountains and were joined by North Korean guerillas. They established three bases (in the Chiri mountains, Odae mountains, and Andong area). In October 1949, some 3,000 guerillas and several hundred local supporters launched a winter offensive against such large towns as Andong, Chinju, and Pohang. Though they failed to occupy the towns, the stage was set for the Korean War.
On the Sunday morning of June 25, 1950, over 56,000 North Korean troops, supported by Soviet-built tanks, crossed the 38th parallel. The Russian T-34 tanks could not be stopped by the ancient equipment in the hands of the ROKs -- despite the heroic efforts of many ROKs soldiers. Soon the ROK Divisions were in a general rout. On June 25th the U.N. Security Council called for an end to the aggression and on June 27th asked its members to go to the aid of the ROK.
About 30,000 more North Korean troops followed the initial onslaught. On 28 June, Seoul was captured and the ROK Army all but destroyed.
When the Korean War broke out, Kunsan Aerodrome had no U.S. unit assigned to it. After the initial onslaught by the North Koreans, the first elements of the 24th Infantry Division started arriving in Korea on June 29, 1950 from Japan. The first ground troops went into action at Osan on July 5, 1950. Units of the 24th ID (Task Force Smith) were the first to encounter North Korean armored units and infantry near Pyongtaek. During the first several weeks, units were committed to battle in company and battalion-sized units, which had little success and suffered high losses. They were overrun and the survivors were progressively forced to retreat. None of the Americans were equipped, trained or mentally prepared for combat. For the first time in history, American ground units had been committed during the initial days of a war...and been asked to hold the line.
On July 7, 1950, the U.N. created the United Nations Command, under commander appointed by the U.S. -- General MacArthur. The U.N. Forces fought a delaying action across South Korea, but were slowly driven back.
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