If you wish to listen to some golden oldies from 1940s-1990s, click on the selection on the list below. There are about 80 full-length songs to choose from. (NOTE: Song audio degraded due to space limitations, but adequate for computer listening.)
There are about 37,500 military personnel in the USFK area of responsibility,
including about 225 aircraft of all types. The number of troops deployed in the
area does not fluctuate -- though there are increases in numbers during
specific exercises such as Foal Eagle. Ground forces include a variety of
units that are normally eployed in the region, which total about 10,000 troops.
Forces in the region include Patriot missile batteries, Apache helicopter
squadrons, a mechanized infantry brigade, an air assault brigade, various
support, intelligence and other units. The total Army presence in the region is
nearly 27,500 soldiers.
The Air Force has two wings located in the USFK region with some 8,300
personnel, operating a total of about 100 aircraft of all types. There are
approximately 3,500 at Osan AB and 3,500 at Kunsan AB. The specific number of
aircraft is restricted so numbers operate on a "best-guess" basis.
US Naval Forces, Korea is particularly small, numbering around 293 sailors and
52 marines. CNFK normally has no seagoing forces assigned, though its personnel
are assigned to various joint, combined, and Navy billets throughout the ROK
peninsula. These personnel are actively engaged in planning and execution of
numerous operations and exercises throughout the Korean theater. Only one ship
has been assigned to the region for over 30 years, that being the USS Pueblo
captured on 23 January 1968 and currently docked as a floating "war souvenier"
at Pyongyang.
US Non-military individuals in Korea can be divided into two categories,
contractors and family members. There are roughly 4,000 contractors and and
11,500 family members in Korea at any given time. The problem of accounting
for numbers of USFK personnel is that there are significant numbers of civilian
contractor personnel and of military families at various facilities in the
region further complicates accounting for total personnel numbers. In
addition, there are "visiting" family members that causes the numbers to
fluctuate as well. The USFK has made it mandatory for all family members to be
accounted for -- whether command sponsored or not.
US Forces Japan
U.S. Forces, Japan, with its U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S.
Marine Corps elements, consists of approximately 47,000 military personnel,
52,000 dependents, 5,500 DOD civilian employees and 23,500 Japanese workers.
Military Oplans for Korea rely heavily on immediate aid from the forces in
Japan. In the event of a war, the assistance will be air support, naval
support and immediate U.S. Marine intervention.
UNITED NATIONS COMMAND
-- The UNC, established on 24 July 1950, marked the first time in history that
nations of the world united under the UN flag to repel aggression. The mission
of UNC is to maintain the provisions of the Armistice Agreement, which resulted
in the cessation of hostilities. The Military Armistice Commission, which
supervises implementation of the Armistice, is composed of officers from the
UNC, north Korea and China.
ROK-US COMBINED FORCES COMMAND
-- CFC exercises operational control over Korean and American forces
responsible for the defense of the Republic. Should our mutual policy of
deterrence fail, Combined Forces Command would direct combat operations to
defeat an enemy attack.
UNITED STATES FORCES KOREA
-- A U.S. Army four-star general serves as commander-in-chief of the United
Nations Command, the ROK/US Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea. USFK
includes all U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine, and Special Operations
elements stationed in Korea. USFK headquarters is located on Yongsan Army
Garrison, Seoul.
U.S. AIR FORCE
-- The mission of 7th Air Force is to plan and direct air component operations
in the ROK. The 7th Air Force maintains readiness of more than 100 operational
units and 10,000 personnel. 7th AF, headquartered at Osan Air Base, includes
the 51st Fighter Wing, 554th RED HORSE Squadron, 607th Air Support Operations,
Air Intelligence and Air Operations groups, and the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan
AB.
U.S. ARMY
-- The largest element in Korea today is the 8th U.S. Army (EUSA), the core
force of the United Nations Command during the Korean War. It has been in Korea
since 1950. Major subordinate commands are the 2nd Infantry Division and the
19th Theater Army Area Command. 8th Army is headquartered on Yongsan, Seoul.
United Nations Command Security BN
(Panmunjon JSA; Camp Bonifas; OP Ouellette: ROKA element makes up roughly 60
percent of the unit while the US Army makes up the remaining 40 percent of the
550 person unit,)
United Nations Command Security Battalion (EAJS)
-- The UNC Security Battalion- Joint Security Area is composed of both ROK and
U.S. military. The unit's mission include providing security in the JSA,
manning Observation Post Ouellette in the Demilitarized Zone, and running the
Panmunjom tour program. The unit is also responsible for the security and civil
affairs of Tae Song Dong, the only Korean village within the Demilitarized Zone.
17th Aviation Brigade (EAAV)
-- The 17th Aviation Brigade is headquartered in Yongsan with the 1st
Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment at K-16; the 2nd Bn, 52nd Avn. Regt. at Camp
Humphreys; and the 164th Air Traffic Services Group at Yongsan, and with
elements located throughout the peninsula. From its inception in 1965, the
soldiers of the 17th Avn Bde have performed with distinction in both peacetime
and combat, while remaining as the "CUTTING EDGE" of freedom in the Republic.
The 1st Bn, 52nd Avn. Regt. provides combat aviation support to USFK, ROK-US
CFC and EUSA with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and C-12 Huron fixed wing
aircraft. The 2nd Bn, 52nd Avn. Regt. is the only unit in the Korean theater
that provides medium lift support assets to USFK, CFC and EUSA, utilizing CH-47
Chinhook helicopters. The 164th ATS Gp provides air traffic services and Army
Airspace Command and Control (A2C2) throughout the entire Korean theater in
support of all Army aviation operations.
1st BN, 52nd Aviation Rgt
-- UH-60A/C-12F (Headquarters at Camp Coiner and subordinate units at K-16,
Camp Page and Camp Humphreys.)
6th Cavalry Brigade (EABH)
-- The mission of the 6th CAV is to conduct Attack Helicoper Operations as the
reserve for the CINC CFC in support of his campaign plan. 6th CAV is
headquartered at Camp Humphreys. The 1st and 3rd Squadrons consist of AH-64
Attack Helicopters and are located at Cps Eagle and Humphreys. The 1st Bn, 43rd
Air Defense Artillery (PATRIOT) is attached to the Brigade and proudly defends
the skies from battle positions across the peninsula.
1st BN, 43 Air Defense Artillery Rgt
-- Patriot (HHB - Suwon AB; Battery A - Suwon AB; Battery B - Suwon AB;
Battery C - Osan AB; Battery D - Osan AB; Battery E - Kunsan AB; Battery F -
Kunsan AB; 3rd MNT CO)
175th Finance Command (FINCOM) (EAFC)
-- 175th FINCOM in Yongsan provides appropriated and nonappropriated fund
accounting services and finance support to soldiers, civilian employees and
family members in theater, directs the overseas banking program, and provides
staff finance and accounting policy advice and operational guidance.The
Centralized Pay and Accounting DivIsion provides accounting, vendor pay,
foreign national pay, and civilian pay customer services.
18th Medical Command (EMAC)
-- The 18th MEDCOM's primary mission is to serve as the strategic link to the
CONUS medical base and plan/coordinate US Army medical support at the
operational and tactical levels through the early stages of conflict. The
secondary mission is to provide theater level command and control of assigned
and attached medical units conducting combat health support within the Korean
theater. MEDCOM is headquartered in Yongsan with subordinate units located
throughout Korea.
18th Medical Command
-- 106th Medical Det; 618th Dental Co; 121st General Hospital; 16th Medical
Logistics BN; 168th Medical BN; 52nd Medical BN (Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul)
501st Military Intelligence Brigade
-- The 501st MI Bde is subordinate to the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security
Command providing intelligence and security support to headquarters, EUSA. The
brigade's mission is to provide combat information and multi-discipline
intelligence to joint and combined warfighters. It is comprised of the brigade
staff elements and four battalions with remote elements throughout Korea.
8th Military Police Brigade (EAPB)
-- The 8th MP Brigade, headquartered in Yongsan, conducts wartime mission of
area security, law and order, enemy prisoner of war and battlefield circulation
control operations throughout the theater. The brigade supports the Commanders
of USFK and EUSA with an uninterrupted flow of combat, combat support and
combat service support resources to the combat zone. The 94th MP Bn in Yongsan
commands and controls all non-divisional military police in the northern
one-third of the ROK. The 728th MP Bn at Cp Henry, Taegu, commands and controls
all combat support military police from Cp Humphreys to Cp Hialeah.
728th Military Police BN
(Camp Walker, Taegu) (Units: 57th MP Company - Camp Carroll; 188th MP Company
- Camp Walker; 552nd MP Company - Camp Hialeah)
8th Personnel Command (EAPC)
-- The mission of 8th PERSCOM is to sustain personnel readiness and exercise
command and control over assigned theater-level personnel units. The theater
PERSCOM manages critical personnel systems and synchronizes personnel network
operations throughout the theater.The command is headquartered in Yongsan with
subordinate units located throughout Korea. The 516th PSB is headquartered in
Yongsan with detachments located at Cp Humphreys and Cp Henry. Also, the 516th
PSB, Delta Co, is responsible for controlling all incoming mail to Korea.
Postal platoons are located in Yongsan, Kimpo Airport, Cp Humphreys and Cp
Henry. The 1st Replacement Company, located in Yongsan, is responsible for
controlling and processing all incoming soldiers entering Korea. The EUSA Band
in Yongsan, performs throughout the Korea. The 509th PSB at Cp Casey has
subordinate unit, the 19th AG Company (Postal) with platoons located at Camp
Casey and Camp Red Cloud.
1st Signal Brigade
-- The 1st Sig Bde is headquartered in Yongsan with units throughtout Korea.
1st Sig Bde provides strategic and tactical communications, and information
management to USFK and component command headquarters in the ROK. They provide
mobile tactical communications, fixed tactical voice and wide area networking,
message center and tactical data communications, satellite communications and
contingency restoral of Defense Communications System circuits, long-haul,
inter-nodal connectivity bwetween geographically dispersed sites. 1st Sig Bde
operates and maintain all AFKN TV, FM and AM radio transmission facilities.
19th Theater Army Area Command (ENAC)
-- 19th TAACOM is the logistic support arm of 8th Army with the mission of
sustaining combat power throughout the peninsula. It's also responsible for the
operations and support of the 82 Army installations in Korea. Its headquarters
is located on Camp Henry in Taegu, with subordinate commands located in each of
the Army's four areas of operation on the peninsula.
2nd Infantry Division (EAID)
-- The 2ID is the major U.S. ground combat unit in Korea. The Division's
headquarters is located at Camp Red Cloud, Uijongbu, and its primary mission is
to deter war on the Korean peninsula by maintaining a high state of combat
readiness and vigilance. 2ID units "SECOND TO NONE" stand shoulder-to-shoulder
with first-echelon Korean units immediately south of the DMZ. (Go to
Army: 2d Infantry Division Web Site
.)
US MARINE FORCES KOREA (USMARFOR-K)
-- U.S. Marine Corps-Korea plans and directs Marine Corps operations in
support of USFK/CFC in the Republic of Korea. MARFOR-K is headquartered in
Yongsan, Seoul.
US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND KOREA (SOCKOR)
-- SOC-KOR is the special operations component command for USFK/CFC. SOC-KOR
brings Army, Navy and Air Force special operations forces into the Korean
Theater of Operations for the war fighting CinC. SOC-KOR is headquartered at
Camp Kim, Seoul, with subordinate units located across the peninsula.
Special Operations Theater Support Element:
-- The SOTSE is a forward deployed logistics planning and coordination element
for U.S. Army Special Operations Support Command, Ft. Bragg, NC. The SOTSE
ensures logistic support is planned and executed for U.S. Army Special
Operations Forces deploying into the Korean Theater of Operations. The SOTSE is
headquartered at Camp Coiner, Seoul.
Special Forces Detachment-Korea:
-- Special Forces Detachment-Korea serves as liaison between the Korean
Special Forces and the U.S. military here on the peninsula. Det-K's operations
range the entire Korean peninsula and involve all branchs of the U.S. and ROK
military. Det-K is headquartered in Songnam, with subordinate LNOs located with
each of the ROK Special Forces Brigades.
129th Medical Detachment:
: -- Clinics of the 129th Med Det (VM) at Yongsan and Cp Walker along with
elements of the 106th Med Det (VS), provides comprehensive veterinary medical
treatment for your pets throughout Korea. The 106th has clinics at Cp Red
Cloud, Osan AB and Cp Hiahlea. The Yongsan Veterinary Treatment Facility serves
as the medical and surgical referral center for the peninsula, though outlying
facilities are equipped to handle many clinical procedures.
Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group-Korea:
-- The Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group-Korea assists Republic of Korea armed
forces in management, logistics and organization. JUSMAG-K also offers guidance
in the establishment of industrial and commercial agencies directly related to
national defense. JUSMAG-K is headquartered in Yongsan, Seoul.
Logistic Support Element Far East:
-- The LSE Far East's mission is to enhance warfighting weapons system
readiness in forward-based and deploying units in Korea and the Pacific Rim.
The Command is headquartered at Camp Market, with subordinate Logistic
Assistance Offices at: Camps Casey, Red Cloud, Henry, Humphreys, Carroll, Long,
Page, Stanley and Eagle.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District:
-- The Far East Engineer District is the Department of Defense Design and
Construction Agent for Korea. The district is headquartered in Seoul with
offices throughout the peninsula. During its forty years of existence in Korea,
the Far East Engineer District has "Built for Peace!"
U.S. NAVY
-- CNFK is the Navy regional coordinator for the ROK. It provides U.S. Navy
expertise to Joint, and Combined Commands for plans, policy, and sustainment
ashore of Naval forces in defense of the ROK. It also provides liaison in
armistice and wartime to U.S. and ROK Naval forces afloat. Its headquarters is
on Yongsan with detachments in Chinhae and Pohang.
Navy: Fleet Activities Chinhae
-- Fleet Activities Chinhae and its 12 tenant activities provide services and
materials to units of the Operating Forces of the U.S. Navy. The command
coordinates and arranges port services and other support to visiting U.S.
Seventh Fleet units.
North Korea -- CIA World Fact Book-Basic overview of national statistics.
South Korea -- CIA World Fact Book-Basic overview of national statistics.
North Korea A Country Study -- Country Studies-Provides detailed but somewhat dated information on history, culture, security, and economy.
South Korea A Country Study -- Country Studies-Provides detailed but somewhat dated information on history, culture, security, and economy.
North Korea's Military Strategy -- Basic Background on the Military Situation. US Army War College Article describing north Korea's military goals and strategy. PDF
Link to Korean Conflict Casualty File (KCCF)
- contains selected descriptive data about U.S. military personnel who died
by hostile means as a result of combat duty in the Korean Conflict, including
personnel declared dead while in a missing or captured status. There is one
record for each individual, 33,642 in all. The dates of death range from 1950
to 1957.
Kunsan Aerodrome (1949-1951): Korean Constabulary
-- Covers the turnover of Camp Hillenmeyer to the Korean Constabulary in 1949.
Brief history of Korean War from the North's invasion on June 25, 1950 through
the formation of the Pusan Perimeter, the Breakout, the Chinese trap of the
U.S. forces to the stalemate of the negotiations. Covers in detail the
military actions in the Cholla region from the 6th NKPA capture of Kunsan to
the Breakout and recapture of Kunsan by U.S. forces.
Kunsan Airbase (1951-1954)
-- Descriptions of the 3rd Bomb Group units with their B-26s with links to
photos of the base and aircraft. Descriptions of other units stationed at
Kunsan during this period. Acknowledgement: Mr. Marv Wiedner of Narrows,
Virginia for his information that started this section's explosion.
The Dicemen of the Korean War
-- Thanks to Roderick Clarke and Roy MacPherson for their narratives. Also
thanks to Andrew Anderson for his writeup on "Involuntary".
474th Fighter Bomber Group
-- The unit that left in April 1953 IN NAME ONLY with one squadron for Taegu
-- leaving two squadrons behind at Kunsan to become the 49th FBG
319th Fighter Interceptor Squadron:
-- F-94 Squadron from Suwon providing B-29 air cover with VMF(N)-513 and
Specifications of the Lockheed F-94 Starfire
B-29 Superfortress:
-- Night bombing strikes on the North Korea (June 1952 - July 1953)
Kunsan Airbase (1954-1974)
-- Descriptions of the draw-down period of the base where the 6170th Air Base
Group took over care-taker duties of the base. Groups started standing nuclear
alert at Kunsan starting in 1958. The base would continue this The 354th TFW
arrived in 1968 during a period of increased tensions, but left in 1970. The
3rd TFW moved to the base in 1972, but was replaced by the 8th TFW in 1974.
6175th Air Base Group
-- Special thanks to
Larry Doyle
of San Pablo, California for his narratives and photos of K8 in 1959.
Special thanks to
James G. Mitchell
(MSgt, USAF, Ret) of North Carolina for his narrative account and photos of
Kunsan in 1964.
Kunsan Airbase (1974-Present)
-- The
8th Fighter Wing
moved to the base from Thailand in 1974. Brief history of the wing and
sections on its two flying units: the 80th FS and 35th FS.
An F-4D crew chief in 1978
-- Special thanks to Bruce W. Ebert (MSgt, USAF, Ret.) of Tacoma, Washington
for his narrative and photos of the base in 1978.
Detachment #1, 554CESHR "Red Horse"
-- Special thanks to Robert "Andy" Anderson (SMSgt, USAF, Ret.) of Panama
City, Florida for his narrative and photos of the men of "Red Horse" in action.
Exercise in 1998
-- Special thanks to MSgt Larry Settle for his narrative and photos.
ECM Shop in 1999
-- Special thanks to MSgt John Jones for his narrative and photos. We are
extremely grateful for the use of his photos depicting the Kunsan Air Base.
