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After our greeting with the band and the
CMC, we observed the ROKMC Silent Drill Team. WOW! They are great!!
They did many of the moves I have seen else where. They had fixed
bayonets throughout their show. They exchanged rifles while marching and
twirled the rifles in the air. BUT at the end of the show they fired
their weapons which were loaded the whole time!!! Great show! True professionals!! |
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We got a great briefing on ROKMC history
and current activities in the HQs conference room. Mr. Yang, Chul
Woo, President of District 354-A Lions Club presented to the CMC
the gifts from Lions Club. (11 million won, and 50 TV&VCRs.) The CMC
gave Lions Club a plaque. The entrance to HQ building has digital
modern display of all aspects of the weather. An interesting addition
to a military HQ. |
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Then it was time for lunch, and a trip
to the mess hall. It was fun to see how the young Marines got to
eat... the old metal trays. They were very functional for Korean cuisine
and the meal was great! I got a chance to talk to both CMC LtGen
Kim and the Assistant CMC MG Bae who speaks English better then myself.
He is a graduate of USMC TBS, and the USMC Amphibious Warfare School.
He as also served a tour of duty as the Naval Attaché in Washington DC.
This summer is the rotation for the CMC and MG Bae may be the next CMC.
Both CMC and ACMC look like poster Marines. They have military bearing
and you could never forget they were a Marine. The next commandant
has to go thru a selection process similar to USMC CMC, with ROK CMC getting
selected and endorsed by CNO, Ministry of National Defense and the President
of Korea. |
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After lunch we went to the ROK 2d Marine
Division up near the DMZ. They have a large area of the DMZ to guard.
They have tours but it is different from the US run Panmunjon tours.
Also, it is a high hill overlooking the water into nKorea. The terrain
is set perfect for teaching map reading class! The trip up there
was escorted by ROKMC MPs. With a beautiful battle hand-off from
HQMC MPs to 2d Marine Division MPs after the toll road. These guys
are professionals. |
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We first visited the Amphibian Tractor
Battalion for 2d Marine Division. (The LVTP7 is home here with a
ROK manufatured version of the LVTP7, just as Court House Bay, Camp
Lejuene NC is home for 2MARDIV Amtracs.) They had a display set
up and showed a crew drill on how quick they can get in and ready.
The are some serious Marines. They were also wearing a Camy Beret
which I thought was interesting in light of the US Army head gear controversy.
After the viewing they told us to climb in... then they took us to where
the buses would drive us to our next spot. It was a clean Amtrac
that was loud and bumpy....brought back some old memories! The ROKMC Amtrac'ers
of 2d Marine Division are in artillery range of most nKorean Arty.
Their crew drills are done with a seriousness we in the US have not had
to worry about. Getting their tracks moving under fire from their garrison
is something we in the US have been lucky to not have to experience. |
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Next we went to the DMZ that is under the
control of the ROKMC at Eagi Pong on the west coast of Korea. What sight.
You can easily see into nKorea. You can also see that nKorea has chopped
all the trees down from the border to 25 km in land. The reason,
for fuel and protect against defectors having cover to escape. You
can also see a few towns. When you look thru the binoculars, you
will notice that there are no people in the towns. Buildings without
people. We did see one Outpost (or in Korean GP) that had nKoreans
in it. Not a lot of people close to the border. |
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What an exciting fun day. For Marines,
it was a once and a life time event. For civilians, it was a chance to
see how their country has dedicated people putting it on the line for
their fellow citizens. I was the only American, and received great
hospitality. Later, I will set something up for my military unit
to go to visit ROK 2d Marine Div. Definitely, a good visit to see some
motivated professionals.
(click on any photo for
enlargement) |
