Camp Colbern 1968-69

I was in Camp Colbern most of 1968 until June of 1969. B-Battery Como Section. I will see if I can find my yearbook and post some pictures.

I noticed the picture of the perimter bunker that you posted. I was there during the Pueblo Incident and they began beafing up security and had us build bunkers outside the perimter fence and build gates in the fence to get to the bunkers. Of course once the brass figured out that we would be easy targets going through the gates we had to build new bunkers inside the fence. BTW for the projector operator, love ya man, the movie theater was a real touch of home.

As for exercise, the hill in front of the barracks just didn't seem to do it. We used to have to run up the hill (bloody mountain as far as I am concerned) across from the main gate. Going up wasn't so bad but comming down was a killer.

And how about that Kimchi? You kind of had to eat it out of self defense.

Great site! Brings back memories.

I WAS IN CAMP COLBERN ALL OF 1969, PRETTY MUCH ON ALERT, NO CIVIES, NO POOL, LOTS OF SECURITY

Hi BS6210,

Sounds like you were coming in as I was heading out. Were you there for the "Order of the Red Broom" fiasco? Also, I have been trying to find someone who knew Craig Gerdes. I lost track of him.

Nice hearing from you. Be well.

Sowport

THEY THOUGHT WE WERE A PACKET, THERE TO RELIEVE A BUNCH OF SHORTIMERS, JUST SOME TURTLES ABOUT TO HAVE THE TIME OF OUR LIVES. DON'T REMEMBER ANYONE BY THAT NAME OR THE ORDER OF THE RED BROOM. COULDN'T BELIEVE THE TOLL ROAD OUT FRONT AND ALL THE BUILDING THAT WAS DONE, EVEN A SWIMMING POOL. DID BLOW OFF A WHITE FLARE ON GUARD DUTY ON NEW YEARS EVE, NEVER GOT CAUGHT.

Yeah, looking at the toll road on Google Earth it is almost unbelievable. In our day it was a long ride out of Soul on dirt roads to get to Colbern. Outside the main gate was just a tiny village on either side of the gate and lots of rice paddies.

As for facilities, no pool but nice brick barracks, a little movie theater, snack bar, library, and I do remember losing a few bucks in the slot machine next to the entrance to the EM/NCO club.

When I was a turtle I heard from the short timers that I had just missed "the good ol' days". Before the Pueblo was captured they used to hire Koreans to stand guard duty and KP, and everyone had a house boy (not just the NCO's and Officers).

The Order of the Red Broom was an award for being the only camp to pass a particular CMMI inspection that year. Since they didn't have an award for this achievement, they painted a broom red and presented it during an evening formation. After taps was played, they ran the broom up the flag pole and we had to salute the damn thing. Of course it was stolen that night. So they painted another broom and ran it up the next night and posted a guard. Basically for passing the inspection we got an extra guard duty. It probably happened shortly before you arrived.

WE HAD HOUSE BOYS, NEVER HAD TO SHINE A PAIR OF SHOES AGAIN, THEN I BOUGHT SOME PATENT LEATHER JUMP BOOTS. MY BUDDY WAS IN MSA, A DOG HANDLER, PHIL HANERFELD. CLYDE MCCARTY WAS FROM PHOENIX WITH ME AND RAN THE MOVIE PROJECTOR.

I seem to recall that they were just starting to use house boys for EM again just before I left. If you are still in touch with Clyde thank him for me. I sure loved those movies of his. Colbern was good duty. For that matter Korea was good duty (far fewer bullets per cubic yard than than other places we could have been). Did almost get killed by a mob once while on weekend leave, because my drunk buddy took a swing at papasan, but that's another story.

IN SOME OF THE 304TH PICTURES, THEY HAD WOMEN SERVING AT COLBERN, NEVER SAW A AMERICAN GIRL THE WHOLE TIME I WAS THERE EXCEPT THE DONUT DOLLIES. I AGREE WITH YOU, IT WAS GOOD DUTY. WHEN WE LEFT COLBERN, SIX OF US STAYED TOGETHER AND WENT TO ANOTHER SGT. MISSLE BATTALION IN CRAILSHEIM, GERMANY, THEN TO GREECE TO FIRE THE MISSILE TWICE. I WENT AROUND THE WORLD BEFORE I WAS 21

Yep, and I only saw the Donut Dollies once. The Army sure has changed since our day ol'timer.

Of course we usually had only one or at most two combat deployments per hitch. These poor suckers seem to head back every few months. I think I'd rather wait to see "round-eyes" (wow, that term sure sounds racist these days) until I got home, knowing that I was home for good.

I always envied the firing platoon arriving and leaving in packets. I came to Colbern by myself and left the same way. When I arrived the entire battalion was headed to a field exercise. It was nearly two weeks before anyone even knew I was there. If I hadn't finally decided to fall out for a formation, I might have spent my entire tour in my bunk.

Did you know of Sgt Bragg from commo, and who were the guys in your section.. I arrived in Jan 69. went to the OMTS sect.. I remember. Spec Rivera in firing section, he left in jume 69 I think

WE HAD HOUSE BOYS, NEVER HAD TO SHINE A PAIR OF SHOES AGAIN, THEN I BOUGHT SOME PATENT LEATHER JUMP BOOTS. MY BUDDY WAS IN MSA, A DOG HANDLER, PHIL HANERFELD. CLYDE MCCARTY WAS FROM PHOENIX WITH ME AND RAN THE MOVIE PROJECTOR.

____________

custom neon sign
naples real estate

I spent the year of 1968 in Camp Colbern Korea, first as an Artillery Surveyor and then as the Battery Clerk. I think I was in B Battery (Sp5 Robert Holewinski). Sgt Ward was in charge of my Survey Team and he drown in the monsoon flood of 1968. Would like to hear from other Colbern people who were there 1968?

Hi. My name is Phil Metcalf Jr. I was stationed at Colbern in 68 as a surveyor for 81st. I knew Rivera. I became a survey crew chief hardstripe E5 while I was there. Looking at the pics it is hard to believe that it is the same place and Korea is so modern now.

Howdy Sp5 Holewinski !

I just received an e-mail from Sgt. Ward's son. He is trying to get in touch with anyone who might have known him. He is interested in any old stories or anything that might help him know his dad a little better. If you or anyone else on the page would like to get in touch with him, please shoot me an e-mail at Sowport@hotmail.com and I will forward his contact information.

Thanks,

Ken Simmons

I had a lot of pictures taken with a Yachika Electro-35 but most of them were lost, sadly. If someone has pics of the surveyors, Sgt Ward, etc, it might help this old gray matter of mine. I do remember sandbagging the village durring the monsoon rains that claimed Sgt Ward's life. It was brutal, rained for two weeks, 24 hrs a day. The streen turned into a river. We had black coffee off the Mess Truck and didn't complain.

Hi there, I'm looking for a 69 yearbook of camp colbern with a picture of my father-in-law Jack Anderson and his friendGlen - does anyone have a 69 yearbook?
Looking forward to any answers, thanks!

Maria Anderson

BS6210 wrote:

THEY THOUGHT WE WERE A PACKET, THERE TO RELIEVE A BUNCH OF SHORTIMERS, JUST SOME TURTLES ABOUT TO HAVE THE TIME OF OUR LIVES. DON'T REMEMBER ANYONE BY THAT NAME OR THE ORDER OF THE RED BROOM. COULDN'T BELIEVE THE TOLL ROAD OUT FRONT AND ALL THE BUILDING THAT WAS DONE, EVEN A SWIMMING POOL. DID BLOW OFF A WHITE FLARE ON GUARD DUTY ON NEW YEARS EVE, NEVER GOT CAUGHT.

I was in MSA for part of the time that I was there, and I remember when one of the guys in the infantry platoon that was on post fired a flare, ans everyone in MSA went on instant high alert, and deployed around the back side of the base, locked and loaded.

BS6210 wrote:

WE HAD HOUSE BOYS, NEVER HAD TO SHINE A PAIR OF SHOES AGAIN, THEN I BOUGHT SOME PATENT LEATHER JUMP BOOTS. MY BUDDY WAS IN MSA, A DOG HANDLER, PHIL HANERFELD. CLYDE MCCARTY WAS FROM PHOENIX WITH ME AND RAN THE MOVIE PROJECTOR.

I don't think that I can recall Phil Hanerfeld, but I do remember Clyde Mc Carty. I also remember Bruce Wade from California, Padilla, who worked in the motor pool, and Sonny Williams.

Sp5 Barela wrote:

Did you know of Sgt Bragg from commo,  and who were the guys in your section.. I arrived in Jan 69. went to the OMTS sect.. I remember. Spec Rivera in firing section, he left in jume 69 I think

I knew you, but don't remember Sgt Bragg

Too the person looking for pics in year book, Anderson last name I have my Dads,

Sent from Topic'it App