오산기지1980-84 이시우 2006/05/10 1236

http://kalaniosullivan.com/OsanAB/OsanSongtanc.html

1980

(L) School Playground Activities (R) Sports Day (1980) (Songbuk Elementary School)

(L) School Playground Activities (R) Sports Day (Mothers’ Volleyball) (1980) (Songbuk Elementary School) (NOTE: Notice the side buildings of the school)

School entrance (1980) (Seojong Elementary 80th Anniversary Book (2003))
Front of School (1980) (Seojong Elementary 80th Anniversary Book (2003))

Seojong Elementary Cub scouts (1980) (Seojong Elementary 80th Anniversary Book (2003))
Front of School (1980) (Seojong Elementary 80th Anniversary Book (2003))

Students in class (1980) (Seojong Elementary 80th Anniversary Book (2003))
Talent Contest (1980) (Seojong Elementary 80th Anniversary Book (2003))

Education: Osan AB There were five DOD Dependent schools in operation at the time: Seoul Elementary/High School; Taegu Elementary/High School; Pusan Elementary/High School; Chinhae Elementary and Osan Elementary. In Oct 1979, the Osan Elementary School opened with an enrollment of 37 with an optimum capacity of 45-60. (Source: 1979 HQ USFK/EUSA Annual History) By the end of 1980, the Osan Elementary was experiencing overcrowding with 114 enrollment — well above the optimum level.

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New and Old Club Managers downtown at Fontana Restaurant (1980) (Ken Shallenbarger)

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Kyongbu Line Expanded to 4 tracks Design for electrified quadruple track between Suwon and Sunghan in Kyung-bu Line. In the 1990s, the design for the Songtan underground roadway in No 3 section of Kyung-bu Line and the underground roadway in Seojung-ri accomplished for the Shinil Co. (Source: Korean Railroad Technical Corporation.)
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OV-10A Bronco (USAF Photo)

19th TASS transfers to 5th TACG The 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron flying the OV-10A Broncos was transferred from the 51st Composite Wing at Osan AB on 8 Jan 1980 and assigned to the 5th Tactical Air Control Group flying the OV-10A Broncos at Osan AB. Det 1 19 TASS at Camp Casey, started in Apr 1976, was shut down in Jan 1980. The unit for a short time between 1983-1985 also flew the OA-37s as the ROKAF at Wonju was obtaining the OA-37s being phased out of the USAF inventory. Still under the 5th TACG, the unit moved to Suwon AB on 1 Aug 1989 and then back to Osan in 1990 for inactivation. (Source: AFHRA: 19th WS.)

The OV-10 Bronco was a multi-purpose, light attack aircraft acquired by the Marine Corp for observation squadrons to conduct visual reconnaissance missions. The OV-10A is a twin-turboprop short takeoff and landing aircraft conceived by the Marine Corps and developed under an Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps tri-service program. The first production OV-10A was ordered in 1966 and its initial flight took place in August 1967. The OV-10 can be used for short take-offs and landings on aircraft carriers without the use of catapults. With the second seat removed, it can carry 3,200 pounds of cargo, five paratroopers or two litter patients and an attendant. Adding to its versatility is a rear fuselage compartment with a capacity of 3,200 pounds of cargo, five combat-equipped troops, or two litter patients and a medical attendant.

The Bronco’s mission capabilities include observation, forward air control, helicopter escort, armed reconnaissance, gunfire spotting, utility and limited ground attack; however, the USAF acquired the Bronco primarily as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. The Bronco also provides transportation for aerial radiological reconnaissance, tactical air observers, artillery and naval gunfire spotting and airborne controllers of tactical air support operations. Other tasks include armed escort for helicopters and front line, low-level aerial photography.

The first USAF OV-10As destined for combat arrived in Vietnam on July 31, 1968. A total of 157 OV-10As were delivered to the USAF before production ended in April 1969.

(Source: FAS: OV-10)

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U-2 Lost 68-10340 art.#062 Lost on 5 October 1980 at Osan AB, Korea. USAF Pilot: Cleveland H. Wallace survived. No other details. (Source: Blackbirds: U-2 Tail Number)

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Team Spirit 1980 Key Chain Souvenier given to Det 1 554th CESHR “Red Horse” (1980)

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Mustang Valley Village Still Under Construction Mustang Valley Village opened in 1980 with 201 units. As of December 1980, there were 14 US government owned houses and 201 leased apartments. (Source: 1980 HQ USFK/EUSA Annual History)

In early 1979 project construction schedules for the 201 apartments at Osan completed by the Korean National Housing Corporation (KNHC), ROK Ministry of Defense (MND) and Corps of Engineers representatives. Construction on the Osan AB housing units (50 two-, 100 three- and 50 four-bedroom) was well advanced by the end of CY 79, with the first 100 apartments scheduled for occupancy in Jan 80 and the remaining 100 by early 1981. The Osan complex, named Mustang Valley Village, was to consist of six four story apartment buildings and a support facility, As a result of extensive negotiations between USFK and KNHC, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on 4 Dec 1979 which established USFK monthly rental costs for the Osan AB apartments at $390 per unit, with payments to be made one year in advance; lease price was to be negotiated annually based on demonstrated costs and expenses. The USAFK had previously recieved congressional sanction and leasing authority for Osan AB family housing project in Oct 78. (Source: 1979 HQ USFK/EUSA Annual History)

(SITE NOTE: Though approved in 1984, by 1987 the new construction was mired down trying to get the ROK to procure land for expansion. After 1990, the quagmire got worse with the Nunn-Warner initiative and though the US halted the pull-out from Korea, all military construction in Korea was placed on an indefinite hold. The Nunn-Warner Initiative in Korea was to reduce the forces by 25% but was put off after the North started their nuclear shenanigans in 1994. However, though the troop reductions were shelved, but what did happen was that there was an indefinite freeze on military construction that lasted a decade. Throughout the peninsula, the facilities deteriorated until 1995 when the construction was opened up again.

Other delays was the reprioritizations due to the MOU signed by the ROK in 1990 over the closing of Yongsan Garrison and moving the troops to Osan AB and Camp Humphreys. The ROK dragged their feet on this measure because they did not want to foot the costs of the move estimated at $3.5 billion.

In 2004, there were still only 210 family housing units. Family Housing consisted of 199 MVV units, 8 Senior Officer Quarters (SOQ) and 3 General Officer Quarters (GOQ). The Mustang Village construction was again started in 2004. See Mustang Village: Construction Started on Third High-rise at Osan AB (Oct 2005) for details on the construction project.

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Osan AB Acquires More Land In 1980 approximately 62 acres were acquired on an exclusive use basis for the construction of certain aircraft support facilities at Osan Air Base. In order to comply with munitions safety-distance criteria, 917.58 acres were acquired as a perpetual restrictive easement. The two sites invovled were Osan Air base (113 acres), Osan-Ni Ammunition Storage Area (515.75 acres). (Source: 1980 HQ USFK/EUSA Annual History)
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Murder in Paengsang-eup According to the Pyeongtaek History, in Nov 1980, G. Davies (?) from K-6 was drunk and attempted to have sex with Yun Lee-yang (20). In the struggle he strangled her. The murder occurred in Paengsang-eup. Outcome of this incident unknown. However, because it was a serious crime, the ROK police would have retained jurisdiction — though the individual would have remained in US custody until a final verdict by the Korean courts was reached. (Source: Pyeongtaek City History CD, “Pyeongtaek Si Sa.”)
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Kwangju Uprising and Anti-Americanism One of the major causes of this anti-Americanism stems from the belief among many Koreans that the U.S. government supported the Korean military’s crackdown on demonstrators in Kwangju, commonly known as the “Kwangju Massacre,” in May 1980. Dissident groups and human rights observers have estimated the civilian death toll at approximately 2,000. Korean activists have charged that the Commander of the US forces, which has operational control over the ROK military, permitted the deployment of Korean troops for the violent crackdown. (See Donald N. Clark, ed., The Kwangju Uprising: Shadows over the Regime in South Korea; and Tim Shorrock, “The Struggle for Democracy in South Korea in the 1980s and the Rise of Anti-Americanism.”) (See Howitwas: 1980 for details on Kwangju Uprising.)
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Ronald Reagan elected President Ronald Reagan campained on teh requirement to restore the US military prowess, and his new Secretary of Defense, Caspar Winberger, saw to it that every promise was fulfilled. The B-1 program was reintroduced, the MX (Peacemaker) was approved. Army divisions were brought up to strength, and the Navy was authorixed to build to a strength of 600 ships. The secret B-2 stealth program (which had been one of Carter’s considerations in canceling the B-1) was still in the “black” (i.e., its budget was a highly calssified secret) but received adequate funding. Military spending grew by more than $300 billion in the first four years of the Reagan administration, with about $75 billion earmarked for strategic modernization and another $75 billion for research and development. However, the JCS was skeptical as the funding might later be withdrawn causing expensive adjustments.

The Reagan program intended to expand to be able to wage a protracted nuclear war and limited conventional war simultaneously. At the same time, it was negotiating with the Soviet Union for strategic arms reduction. (Source: Beyond the Wild Blue, Walter J. Boyne, pp250-251)
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New Regime: With the assassination of Park Chung-Hee, the nation was in a state of turmoil. The restoration of national stability became the most urgent task. A new constitution was to be adopted early in 1980.

Chae Kyu Ha. (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)

Roh Tae-woo. (Pyeongtaek City) (Source: Pyeongtaek History (CD), Pyeongtaek Si Sa)
Chae Kyu Ha took over the reins as President, but only for a short time. On Dec 12, 1979, Maj.Gen. Chun Doo-hwan took control of government in a military coup. After Chun Doo-hwan became President of the Fifth Republic, things returned to normal…though tensions were just below the surface.

On 17 May 1980, the ROK extended martial law nationwide to include Cheju (previously exempted), in an effort to quell widespread anti-government demonstrations by students and others in Seoul and five provincial cities. Decree No. 10 is issued immediately thereafter, which directs closing of all universities or colleges; bans political rallies and labor strikes; requires prior censorship for newspapers and other publications, as well as radio broadcasts; and prohibits “slanderous statements” against iether former or incumbert presidents. Promulgation of the drecree is accompanied by the arrets of hundreds of dissidents, including prominent political leadders.

On 19 May 1980, Martial Law Command closes down the National Assembly and the headquarters of both major political parties. This latest action follows the arrest of former presidntial candidate Kim Dae-jung, majority party head Kim Jong-pil, opposition party leader Kim Young-sam, and other political fugures on suspicion of illicityly amassing wealth or instigating social unrest. The US State Department says it was “deeply disturbed by the extension of martial law” in the ROK.

Expressing displeasure with Lt. Gen. Chun’s growing power, the Carter administration officials disclose a series of measures affecting its relations with Korea. Among them: US economic mission scheduled ofr Seoulo visit later in June is put off indefinitely; US would review its enteire relationship with ROK except for basic security ties; at US request, Asian Development Bank will delay action on two loans for SOuth Korean construction projects; and planned meeting between ROK Foreign Ministry and US State Depart officials will be postponed.

Retired General Chun Doo-hwan is chosen unanimously by the ROK electoral college as the nation’s new head of state replacing Park, Choon-hoon who served eleven days as Acting President following the 15 August resignation of Choi Kyu-hah. Chun was the sole candidate for the presidnency. He was formally sworn inas the new President of the ROK on 1 Sep 1980. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p216-219, Command Historian’s Office, USFK/EUSA) The Kwangu incident would haunt Korea for years. Later former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Rho Tae-woo would be imprisoned for their roles in the “Kwangju Massacre” (as it is popularly called now) when Kim Yong-sam became President.

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Student Unrest Continues The demands for the early adoption of a new constitution, the end of martial law, and the resignation of General Chun Doo-Hwan as Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency grew louder. Several thousand university sutdents in Seoul, Chonju, and Taejon held campus rallies and clashed with he police early in May. Kim Yong-Sam and Kim Dae-Jung called for the end of martial law and suspension of plans to revise the constitution and instead call a National Assembly session.

On May 14 and 15, some 100,000 students from 45 universities in the country demonstrated in force and their street actions grew so strident and riotous as to paralyze public security. The disturbances peaked on May 15 when 72,000 students filled the City Hall and Seoul Railway Station Plaza, raided police stations, burned police vehicles, and hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at policemen, injuring some 600 of them and killing one. Communist agitators were suspected to be part of the riots as the slogans bore a clear Communist origin.

On May 18, Kim Yong-Sam was placed under house arrest. Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Chong-Pil were arrested. Then turmoil erupted in the city of Kwangju, capital of South Cholla Province. It was the largest and severest regional disturbance in the history of the country. It started with 300 students of Chonnam and Choson universities but soon snowballed into an uncontrollable disturbance as citizens of Kwangju were incensed by the news of the arrest of Kim Dae-Jung, their favorite son whose political base was in the area.

From May 19-22, some 200,000 citizens and students clashed with police and military forces. (NOTE: The term “rebels”, “rebellion”, and “revolt” cause harsh responses from Koreans with respect to this incident.) After breaking into armories, the rebels obtained weapons and ammunition. A full-fledged rebellion began. Government actions to quiet the Kwangu case were ineffective. On May 22, paratroopers stormed Kwangju and subjugated the rebellion, but the insurrection resulted in the death of several hundreds and several hundreds wounded. (NOTE: To this date, these numbers are questioned by Kwangju residents who claim “thousands” were killed or wounded.)

In August, President Choe resigned accepting responsibility for the Kwangju Incident. As soon as this happened, Chun Doo-Hwan who had retired from active duty after receiving his fourth star, threw his hat in the ring for the office. Members of the National Conference for Unification nominated General Chun, and on Aug 27, Chun was elected president.

In September, Kim Dae-Jung was sentenced to death for inciting the riots in Kwangju. However, the intervention of President Reagan led to the exile of Kim Dae-Jung to America.

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The following article is from Asia CNN.com and is a rehash of the incidents mentioned before:

Kwangju still an issue in U.S.-South Korea relationship
Bloody uprising was a democratic milestone

By Joseph Manguno
Special to CNN Interactive

South Korean soldiers round up protesters
during the Kwangju uprising in May 1980.
Activists demanded democratic elections
and an end to the martial law
declared months earlier.

(CNN) — Much of the residual goodwill that the United States enjoyed among South Koreans for helping to save them from communism in the early 1950s was squandered in a series of missteps that took place nearly three decades later.

In October 1979, South Korea’s long-time president, Park Chung-hee, was assassinated by Kim Jae-kyu, head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA).

Kim testified at his trial that he killed Park to put an end to his increasingly authoritarian and erratic rule. Instead, Park’s assassination triggered one of the most turbulent periods in recent Korean history, culminating in a bloody civilian uprising in the southwestern city of Kwangju.

The void created by Park’s death was filled by Maj. Gen. Chun Doo-hwan, a Park protege and commander of the powerful Defense Security Command. Chun staged an internal coup to take control of the military, then persuaded the new president, Choi Kyuh-hah, to impose martial law and name Chun chief of the KCIA.

Analysts and critics say the United States sent Chun a series of conflicting signals about his power grab, leading him to believe that Washington agreed with the steps he’d taken and thought he was the one to restore political stability in South Korea. Those signals also encouraged Chun to think he held the critical cards in the Korean-American relationship, critics say.

The United States further miscalculated by accepting the coup as a fait accompli, and built a working relationship with Chun’s regime at great cost to its long-term relationship with the Korean people, analysts say.

Protest and crackdown

The situation came to a head in May 1980, four months after Chun’s coup and elevation as head of the KCIA, when labor activists, students and opposition politicians, chafing from the harsh military rule, began a series of nationwide demonstrations demanding democratic elections and an end to martial law.

Chun sent the military to crack down on the demonstrators, and the latter responded with rocks and firebombs.

More than 10,000 protesters
took to the streets during
the Kwangju demonstrations

On May 17, as protests were dying in most parts of the country, activists in Kwangju defied orders to end the demonstrations. The Martial Law Command arrested several opposition politicians, including Kim Dae-jung, now South Korea’s president, and charged him with fomenting rebellion. He was eventually sentenced to death.

The following day, elite paratrooper units of Korea’s Special Forces Command were ordered into the city. By most accounts, they took to their mission with incredible brutality, mowing down scores of demonstrators.

Horrified civilians, led by militant protestors, broke into police stations and armories and seized weapons to defend themselves.

The Special Forces eventually withdrew to the outskirts of Kwangju, and the government attempted to persuade the activists to return the weapons in exchange for amnesty and democratic reforms. But hard-line attitudes prevailed on both sides, and negotiations failed.

Death toll: 191 or 2,000?

Finally, eight days after the uprising began, Seoul ordered riot-trained army units into Kwangju to mop up. It was carried out with minimal bloodshed — only about a dozen people died — but the death toll for the uprising is still disputed to this day.

Relatives go to the Mang Wol-dong cemetery
on the anniversary of the Kwangju massacre
to mourn the loss of loved ones

The government says 191 people were killed in the uprising, but Kwangju officials and survivors insist the figure is closer to 2,000. They say they cannot prove it, however, because — they allege — the military carted most of the bodies away and burned some, buried others and dumped the rest in the sea.

In August 1980, Chun had the military junta name him president, replacing Choi. He ruled for nearly eight years before engineering the election of his longtime crony, retired Gen. Roh Tae-woo, as his successor.

(In 1996, Chun and Roh were convicted of mutiny, treason and corruption in connection with the 1979 coup and the Kwangju massacre. Chun was sentenced to death and Roh to a long prison term, but both were pardoned in 1997 by Kim Dae-jung after he was elected president.)

The events of those chaotic months marked one of the most difficult chapters in modern American diplomacy.

Still smarting from the loss of the Vietnam War and the sudden sweep of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, the United States also was caught off-guard in South Korea.

Conflicting signals by U.S. officials led the Koreans to believe that the United States either conspired in Chun’s coup and authoritarian rule or, at the very least, acquiesced to it.

Former South Korean presidents Chun Doo-hwan (right)
and Roh Tae-woo were convicted in 1996 for their roles
in the 1979 coup and in putting down the Kwangju demonstrations.
President Kim Dae-jung, himself a former Kwangju protester,
pardoned them in 1997.

Hard feelings continue

In the years since, the United States has made several attempts to disprove those suspicions and win back the confidence of the Korean people. However, their efforts, including the 1989 publication of a special “Statement on the Events in Kwangju,” have failed.

Two books — one by William H. Gleysteen Jr., the U.S. ambassador to Seoul in 1979-80; the other by retired Gen. John A. Wickham, head of American forces in South Korea during that period — are the latest to state that the U.S. was not responsible for the events around the Kwangju uprising.

Gleysteen and Wickham say U.S. officials had nothing to do with the assassination of Park, despite a close relationship with his assassin.

They also insist that they could not stop Chun from seizing power, nor prevent him from using the Special Forces. Finally, they say that Chun’s visit with President Ronald Reagan in Washington was a payoff for Chun’s agreement to commute Kim Dae-jung’s death sentence.

“We probably had little if any real influence over internal developments,” Wickham says in his book, “Korea on the Brink.” “And we were little more than hapless bystanders as Chun shrewdly maneuvered toward total power.”

Gleysteen and Wickham argue that American missteps were driven primarily by two factors.

One “humiliating restraint,” writes Gleysteen in “Massive Entanglement, Marginal Influence: Carter and Korea in Crisis,” “was inadequate intelligence of tactical developments.” A second was concern that North Korea might try to take advantage of the political instability and invade South Korea, endangering the tens of thousands of U.S. troops stationed there and jeopardizing U.S. regional security interests.

A democratic milestone

Re-enactments are held each year in Kwangju
on the anniversary of the uprising.
Many South Koreans still believe the United States
was partially responsible for the massacre.

At a conference in Los Angeles in April 2000 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Kwangju uprising, speaker after speaker — many of them Korean-Americans — made clear that they still do not accept official U.S. explanations for the events of 1979-80.

But they also agreed that the uprising was a milestone in the struggle for democracy in Asia.

“The Kwangju uprising in 1980 and the Tiananmen crisis in 1989,” said Shin Dong-kim, an assistant professor of communications at Hallym University in Chuncheon, South Korea, “were massive and tragic and collective actions against dominant political powers and established regimes.”

Both, Shin said, “were failed attempts in terms of achieving immediate goals,” but in the long run advanced the cause of democracy in Asia.

Lynn Turk, former political secretary in the American Embassy in Seoul and author of the 1989 U.S. statement on Kwangju, agreed. The rebellion, Turk said, “directly paved the way for Korean democratization.”

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1981

Hill 180 Chapter, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Awards Ceremony at Songbuk Elementary School (1981) (Songbuk Elementary School)

Education At Osan AB, construction of the new permanent elementary school began 1 September 1981, and was designed for 279 students. The facility has a central library Information Center from which radiates two multi-purpose rooms for storage, a health room, counselor뭩 office, and administration offices. Two wings, each containing three classrooms, also stem off the library. (Source: Osan American Elementary School)
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Songtan becomes a City July 1, 1981: Songtan-eup (town) was raised to the status of city and separated by Law No. 3425 (Promulgated on April 13, 1981) Songtan-eup (town) was split away from Pyeongtaek-gun (county) to form Songtan-shi (city).

Si (“City”) A “Si” is one of the divisions of a province, along with “Gun.” Cities have a population of at least 50,000; once a county (“Gun”) attains that population, it becomes a city. Cities with a population of over 500,000 (namely, Suwon, Cheongju, and Jeonju) are divided into wards (“Gu”); smaller cities are divided into neighbourhoods (“Dong”).

Eup (“Town”) An “Eup” is one of the divisions뾞long with “Myeon”뾬f a county (“Gun”) and some cities (“Si”) of less than 500,000 population. The main town or towns in a county뾬r the secondary town or towns within a city’s territory뾞re designated as “Eup.” Towns are subdivided into villages (“Ri”).

(Source: Administrative Divisions of Korea.))
In 1981, there were more than 50,000 people residing in Songtan. By the late 1980s, there was 66,000 people in the area. Seventy percent of the people lived within 1 km of the Osan AB. At the start of the 1980s, the bars, shops and houses were intermixed in a confusing tangle of alleys and small roads. (Source: Songtan.org: Songtan History: Hangul Translation)

When Songtan-eup (town) became Songtan-shi (city), the city leaders moved swiftly to attempt to distance itself from the bar row image that had grown around the town. According to Mr. Kim Jae-won, owner of the Asia Hotel, the city first wanted to build the City Hall on the Jisan Hill (Songtan Park area). The location was close to Osan AB as the 70 percent of the population was clustered within 1km of the base and the wooded area seemed ideal. However, the owner of the land refused to sell the hill. Thus the City had to settle for the location it currently is at.

Songtan City Hall (Pyeongtaek Si Sa) (NOTE: Kaiser Pink is the color that the city chose — a rather strange choice. Overpasses, street structions, etc from the mid-2000s are painted this color. Though color no longer used, some overpasses still retain this color.)

As Songtan was made by combining Seojong-ni and Songtan and the new administrative center was planned to be in the center of these two districts. In the past, both districts grew up separately and now they were to be forged into one city. The master plan called for the creation of a new administrative center which would be called “Ichung” for “two loyalites” signifying Seojong and Songtan joining. The new city hall was to be erected at the end of the new Seojong Tourism Road at the melding point between the two districts. The significance in the names of the roads set the tone for the new Songtan City. On one hand, “tradition” (Hwamungmyeon) signified the past and was the name for the Ichung-dong Road and new Civic Center. At the same time, “tourism” in Seojong Tourism Road indicated the outlook for the future as Shinjang was being molded into a shopping mall — to compete with Itaewon in scope and size. In the Jungang area, plans were being made to create a local Songtan industrial area to balance the growth of the city.

(NOTE: There is another reason given stating that two scholars were born in the area, Cho Gwang-jo and Oh Dal-jae. (Source: Songtan.org: Songtan History: Hangul Translation).) However, though it sounds nice we wonder about this as Cho Gwang-jo’s grave is in Yong-in along with a lecture hall to honor him built in 1605 by King Seonjo. (Source: Yongin Tourism.))
The city symbol (gi) was an inverted “v” with a circle in white on a dark green background. The inverted “v” is a Hangul “s” that symbolizes “people.” The circle represented “together.” The Chinese ideograph represented “peace.” The dark green symbolized a young and healthy community. The white color represented the united Korea. The symbol all together was to represent a growing community with hopes for peace on the peninsula and a unified Korea.

Songtan City Hall (Songtan History)

City Bird: Dove (bidulgi) (NOTE: This was in keeping with the “peace” theme for the city.) (Songtan History)

(L) City Tree: Ginko (eunhaeng) (R) City Flower: Golden rod (Gaenari) (Source: Songtan History)

Songtan City Song (Songtan History)

Park Chung-hee’s directive to improve the roads in the area — after the Wing Commander requested another route to the MSR-1 — had transformed the community. The overpass from the base relieved most of the congestion down Shinjang Mall Road — at least temporarily until the appearance of Korean autos everywhere in the 1990s. After 1980, new streets were laid out on a grid pattern in both Songtan and Seojong. (SEE Roads Surrounding K-55 for details.) The construction of new roads started with the widening of Milwal Road, the expansion of the Shinjang Overpass Road and then the laying out of the grid in the Shinjang 2-dong area. From there it spread to the Seojong-dong area and along the MSR-1.

New apartment construction was undertaken — including apartments being set aside for foreigners. There are two groups — one is on Jisan Cheon (Stream) Road in Songbuk-dong in the late 1970s and the other is along Burak Mountain Road in Seojong-dong in the early 1980s.

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Photos by Dennis Williams of 51st SPS Guard Mount at Osan AB. (Address unk: Photos posted on Osan AB Yahoo Group)

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38th ADA Bde Deactivated The 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Headquarters was established at Osan AB on 25 May 1961. The unit was deactivated on 31 July 1981. Controlled the Nike-Hercules and Hawk batteries under the 44th ADA around the peninsula. Deactivated when the last of the Hawks were turned over to the ROK.

38th Brigade Patch: Hand of Power, but according to Kenneth Wisz (E Btry 2/44th ADA 38th AD Bde, Kimje, Korea), “it was better known as ‘the fist of shit’.” The partition line represents the division of the Korean Peninsula by the Demilitarized Zone. The gauntlet represents the protection offered by the brigade, the lightning bolt the swift retaliation against any hostile air attack.

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36th TFS Squadron Photo (1981) (36th Fiends Site)

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TACC Renovation The renovation and reopening of the Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) took place in 1981. The Tactical Air Control Center had full control over all air operations. Reconnaissance aircraft and air defense radar sites informed the center about potentially hostile aircraft before they entered South Korean airspace. In wartime this capability was expected to allow South Korean air controllers more time to assess threat and the ability quickly to communicate orders to interceptor aircraft and surface-to-air missile sites. It would become fully operational in 1983. (This would evolve into the Air Operations Command (AOC) at Osan. (Source: GlobalSecurity.org: ROKAF Bases)
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25th TFS

25th Tactical Fighter Squadron Assigned to Suwon AB The 25th Tactical Fighter Squadon, “Assam Dragons,” flying Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolts assigned to the 51st TFW and stationed at Suwon AB, ROK until 1989 when it was moved back to Osan AB. The first six USAF A-19 Thunderboltt II aircraft arrived to form the 25th TFS on 3 Mar 1982. Twelve more planes arrived in April and the last increment of six would be delivered in March 1983. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p236, Command Historian’s Office, USFK/EUSA)

The history of the 25th Fighter Squadron dates back to WWII as the 25th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) activated on 15 Jan 1941 where it fought in India and China. After WWII, it converted to F-80s under the 51st Fighter Group. When the Korean War broke out the 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was still flying the F-80s at Itazuke AB, Japan and moved to Suwon AB, South Korea in 20 Jul 1951 where it converted to the F-86 under the 51st Fighter Wing. It was redesignated the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33d TFW in June 1965 under TAC. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1990. In May 1968 it jouned the 8th TFW at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand and then to the 432d TFW at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand until the end of the Vietnam War. It moved to Clark AB, Philippines with the 3rd TFW in 1975 and almost immediately was reassigned to the 18th TFW in Dec 1975.

The unit was not operational between Aug 1980뻁an 1982.

It was assigned to the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) — later the 51st TFW — between 1 Feb 1981-31 Jul 1990. The unit was stationed at Suwon AB on 1 Feb 1981.

The unit moved to Osan AB, South Korea after the closure of Suwon as an active USAF base. The unit was not operational from Nov 1989뻁ul 1990. The 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 31 Jul 1990.

It was then redesignated the 25th Fighter Squadron, and activated, on 1 Oct 1993 and assigned to the 51st Operations Group at Osan AB. (Source: AFHRA: 25th FS.)

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Troop Withdrawal Plan Officially Shelved: Korea-wide, the major change was the shift to shut down the move to remove the troops from Korea. In January 1981, at the ROK-US military summit, a 14-point communiqu?was announced including the cancellation of planned withdrawal of the USFK. This put to rest the fear of American withdrawals started by Jimmy Carter’s withdrawal plan in 1978. Carter cancelled the withdrawal plan in 1979.
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ROK Economic Development Industrial policy in the 1980s sought to ensure further growth and stabilization. The priority of S&T policy was placed on building the indigenous R&D capability required for the development of the technology-intensive industries as well as imporving the productivity of the manufacturing systems. to this end, efforts continued to acquire high-level scientists and engineers through the reinforcement of graduate education, expansion of overseas training programs and repatriation of scientists and engineers from abroad. In addition, the National R&D Program was initiated in 1982 to build up domestic R&D capabilities in the areas of core and public welfare technologies with generic characteristics. This program has served as the base for indigenous R&D in Korea. It was also during this period that the development of the Taedok Science Town was completed and opened to accommodate research institutes, public as well as private. The Taedok Science Town has facilitated R&D cooperation not just between research institutes of different fields but between public and private institutes as well. Another notable development was the rapid growth of private industrial R&D labs in both number and research activities. (Source: A Handbook of Korea, 1999, p328)

The year 1980 saw the successful implementation of a bold educational reform policy — the abolition of private tutoring — which had been one of the most controversial issues in education. Parents’ enthusiasm for education, coupled with a feverish rush to matriculate their children in so-called “first-rate” universities, had precipitated the widespread practice of private tutoring. However, that parctice had resulted in a financial burden for parents and had undermined regular school education. The government, recongnizing these undesirable effects, proclaimed a legal ban on private tutoring and changed the college entrance system.

In accordane with this policy, the government has administerd a state examination for all high school graduates wishing to attend college or university since 1981. The scores from this written test, combined with students’ high school records now determine the qualification of a student to matriculate in a certain college or university. The system also prohibits individual colleges and universities from conducting their own entrance examinations. (Source: A Handbook of Korea, 1999, p348) (NOTE: This policy changed in 2000 when declining college enrollment and increasing pressure to improve the quality of education forced the government to relent on its policy of prohibiting individual colleges from administering their own entrance exams.)
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U-2 Tidbits from 1981 The following was on Mike Troiano: The Dreaded Bunny : “Osan Korea – 1981 During an Easter week flight, I learned a science lesson that I will never forget. We sent up the U-2 on it’s normal flight routine when after a short while we received a frantic call from our pilot. We were all called back into work after a grueling 12 hour shift to recover a misguided flight. It seems like our beloved pilot had taken a marshmallow Easter bunny with him on his normal flight. What he nor anyone else realized was that marshmallow expands when in a pressurized environment! The higher the a/c went the bigger the bunny grew. The bunny grew so large that it overtook the cockpit and forced the pilot to abort the mission. I don’t know how they squared that with Washington, but I’m sure it didn’t happen that next year! Just one odd fact about how we protect our country!”

Osan Korea – DET II Here is a pilot being readied for flight. The steps up to the a/c are covered for two reasons: keep the sun/heat off of the pilot and to keep prying eyes from seeing what’s going on. (1981) (Mike Troiano)

Mike Troiano relates a tale of the Black Cat Mascot: “Our units patch consisted of a cartoonish type picture of a black cat. Our hats were hand made at the Apollo Hat Shop right outside of the main gate at Osan. There was a real black cat behind the patch his name was Oscar. Oscar was adopted by our much rotated staff to make us feel at home. Oscar’s main squeeze was a guy we called Curely. Curely looked like the guy from the stooges and had a soft spot for Oscar.

Oscar patch (1981) (Mike Troiano)

Oscar had a good life except when those nasty G.I.’s got ideas! Oscar had a flight suit sown up for him and took an actual U-2 flight. He mostly stayed in the commanders office and needed to be kicked out when operations closed. It was a problem when Oscar was left in the commanders office overnight. Oscar would love to rip up the commanders desk and papers and then leave the commander a little reminder of what he had for dinner! …

Osan Korea was known as DET II and housed the U-2, DET I in Kadina Japan was where the SR-71 was stationed.

……. Even though both places were manned by the same people, the regular PCS longtimers played a trick I’ll never forget. It seemed like one of the people (remaining nameless) from DET I flew over to DET II kidnapped Oscar and returned him the next day. While Oscar was being held captive, a person (who was able to perform such an event) ‘fixed’ Oscar. His jewels are in a small babyfood jar filled with what ever they preserve stuff in, and last time I saw it was sitting high above a bookcase in the main office at DET I.

Oscar is long gone now. Being a stray cat in Korea is a dangerous thing, so besides the flight and the fix I think he had it pretty good. He had lots of people to give him love and he was even in our evacuation plan. (Source: Mike Troiano: Oscar )

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1982
51st TFW On July 1, 1982, the 51st Composite wing was redesignated the 51st Tactical Fighter Wing.
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Osan Elementary Permanent Quarters A permanent school designed for 275 students in grades kindergarten through 6 opened in August 1982. (NOTE: In Oct 1979, the Osan Elementary School opened with an enrollment of 37 with an optimum capacity of 45-60. The school term formally opened in temporary quarters in November 1979. An addition was completed in December 1987, allowing the school to expand its student population. Osan American High School opened in 1995 to accommodate 250 students in grades 7 through 12. A 4-teacher K-2 annex school opened in August 1999 at Camp Humphreys. Plans are for a 3 Kindergarten classroom building to open in SY 02-03. Students come from the communities of Osan AB and Camp Humphreys (U.S. Army).))
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Communication Squadron Telephone Linemen: (Top) Stackhouse, Duncan, Telford and Hall in Korea (Bottom) Chem Warfare (Apr 1982) (Unknown: Wire Dawgs.net

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36th TFS Christmas Card (December 1982) (36th Fiends Site) (Note the card says the fly-by was by the 36th TFS flying F-4Es and the 15th TRS of Kadena, Okinawa flying RF-4Cs.)

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497th TFS at Taegu Joins the 51st Composite Wing According to the FAS Intelligence , “The 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated on 01 October 1978 at Taegu Air Base, Korea, with 12 F-4D aircraft. The new squadron was an offset measure, designed to mitigate the effects president Carter’s plan to withdraw US ground forces from Korea. That plan was later canceled.”

The ADVON from the 80th TFS set up the operations at Taegu in 1978, but once the maintenance area was setup, the operations was turned over to the 497th TFS “Night Owls” (or “Hooters”). According to the 8th Wing Historian, the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Taegu AB (K-2) joined the 8th TFW as a “geographically separated flying squadron.” (See 8th TFW FOL (Taegu): 497th TFS “Hooters” (Feb 78-Jan 82).)

The 497th TFS was officially transferred from the 8th TFW to the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) on 1 January 1982. The 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron remained with the 51st TFW from 1 Jan 1982 to 24 Jan 1989.

497th TFS “Night Owls”

Anthony Sagun , MSgt, USAF (Ret), wrote, “I left George AFB for Taegu AB in June 1982. The fighter squadron at “K-2″ was the 497th Tactical Figther Squadron, the “Hooters” we called ourselves. The 497 TFS may have been inactivated in Kunsan but it was alive and kicking when I got there in 1982. At that time however, the 497 TFS was under the 51st Composite Wing at Osan AB. The F-4Es at Taegu and the A-10s at Suwon AB both fell under that command.”

According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency , when the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) absorbed the 497th TFS it reassumed control of Taegu AB. The 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) was renamed the 51st TFW in July 1982. The 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron remained with the 51st TFW from 1 Jan 1982 to 24 Jan 1989.

Wayne Hoff, SMSgt, USAF (Ret), of Tacoma, Washington was at Taegu from May 84 to Sep 90. He wrote in 2001, “Yes, it was the 497th TFS (Hooters) when we had F4E’s. The maintenance outfit was the 6497th CAMS (Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron). Taegu was truly my best assignment in my 20 years. I think there was a total of 700 USAF at K-2. Very small USAF contingent and we were integrated with the ROKAF up to 1988. We shut down in 88 and began transferring our F4-E’s to the ROKAF and 3rd TFW at Clark. Once we got everything transferred we were closing equipment accounts, transferring needed items to Osan.”

NOTE: 497th Combat Training Squadron of Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore is the lineal descendant of the “Hooters.” Accordng to the site, “Due to the restructuring of the command following the closure of Clark Air Base, the 497th’s designation changed to the 497th Fighter Training Squadron. The 497th has a rich combat history since its conception in January of 1942 as the 302nd Bombardment Squadron (light). The name changed to the 497th Fighter Bomber Squadron in 1943 and has since gone through many mission changes. The unit first moved to PACAF in December 1965 as part of the 8th TFW based in Ubon, Thailand and for the next 8 years flew combat sorties throughout Southeast Asia. The 497th was the pioneer unit in flying night missions and developed the tactics used during “Night Owl” interdiction missions. The unit deactivated in 1974 when the 8th TFW moved to Kunsan AB, ROK only to be reactivated four years later at Taegu AB, ROK where the unit stayed until its deactivation and mothballing in 1988. The 497th Fighter Training Squadron was once again reactivated on 31 October 1991 and was redesignated as the 497th Combat Training Squadron on 1 August 1994. The unit has two main work areas in Singapore. Aircraft operations and maintenance support functions are conducted at Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB), while typical base support functions are carried out at the squadron headquarters located in Sembawang. The headquarters staff support offices are located in the headquarters building at the Port of Singapore Authority Sembawang Terminal.”
Wayne went on, “Then HQ PACAF had a great idea to put RF-4C’s at Taegu. So they pumped a lot of money into our facilities, we went out on scrounging missions to Osan, Kimhae, Kunsan and Kwangju to get back some F-4 support equipment. Then they came in and put 24 Rekke’s at K-2. We were no longer integrated with the ROKAF and became solely an American outfit.

At that time our squadron changed to the 460th Recon. Sqd. and our Maintenance sqd changed to the 460th CAMS. We spun up the Rekke outfit for just over a year, then in late 1989 HQ PACAF again decided we no longer needed RF-4C’s. So we shut down again. This time for good.”

(NOTE: The collapse of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact led to accelerated retirement plans for active duty USAF RF-4Cs. The deactivation was also partially based on the Nunn-Warner Initiative that took place in 1990 to reduce the forces in Korea by 25%. In addition, the mission of the RF-4Cs was replaced by the use of the U-2s out of Osan AB that were able to overfly North Korea at high-altitude.)
Wayne added, “I was going to stay one more year and run transit alert at Taegu but I let my Maintenance Officer talk me out of it (stupid mistake). So I left in Sep 90. I had it made there. Was Command Sponsored the entire time and lived in base housing across town at Camp George (apartments similar to the ones on Osan, with Taegu American school right across the street from my house, K-12 grades). I really hated to leave Taegu and have often considered going back there some day to finish out my life. Still may someday. If someone came to the 6497th CAMS during my time there, I probably knew them as I ran QC/QA and was on the base CVI Team for 5 years and did countless evaluations. There were only 5 of us in QA so pretty much everybody would meet us eventually. Only folks I didn’t run across a lot was our AMMO folks, but there were only 40 of them and I did know quite a few of them.

“When we got the Rekke’s I became a APG Flight Chief for a short period of time then I was moved up and was the NCOIC of the AMU because I had a lot of “tribal knowledge” and could make things happen and get things done. I was offered the opportunity to go to Taegu when it opened in 78 from Kunsan and turned it down. Looking back, I missed a great opportunity. They wanted to take 2 people from the Phase Docks and I was the first asked to go and I thought it over for a few days and decided to say no (stupid me).”
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USFK Development The new commissary opened at Osan AB and henceforth all US servicemembers stationed in Korea would have access to commissaries.

Another ration control policy change going into effect was the creation of a new category of dependents called “limited command-sponsored” which meant that dependents in the designated locations, and other noncommand-sponsored dependents whose sponsor was serving two consecutive years in the command, would be authorized full use of commissaries and exchanges, with appropriate dollar limits based on family size, but will not be entitled to use DOD schools, housing or transportation.

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Medical Footnote: Spectinomycin-resistant VD in Songtan Non-PPNG case: A 21-year-old U.S. airman stationed at Osan Air Force Base, Republic of Korea, was seen at the Osan hospital clinic July 20, 1982, with a 3-day history of purulent urethral discharge that began 3 days after sexual exposure to a prostitute. A Gram stain was consistent with gonorrhea, and he was treated with spectinomycin 2 g intramuscularly (IM). Cultures of the discharge grew beta-lactamase-negative N. gonorrhoeae susceptible to penicillin and spectinomycin.

On July 27, the patient returned for a scheduled test of cure. He remained symptomatic with purulent urethral discharge on examination, and the gram-stain smear was again consistent with gonorrhea. He was given 4 g of spectinomycin IM. Cultures of the urethral exudate grew beta-lactamase negative N. gonorrhoeae susceptible to penicillin but resistant to spectinomycin. Symptoms persisted until July 30, when the patient was hospitalized for further evaluation and definitive therapy. A gram-stain smear was still consistent with gonorrhea. Urethral cultures were positive for N. gonorrhoeae susceptible to penicillin but resistant to spectinomycin. He was given 4.8 million units of procaine penicillin IM and 1 g of probenecid orally. His symptoms resolved, and cultures of post-treatment urethral specimens were negative.

Two cases were reported from London in males aged 30 years and 23 years (2); Asian-type plasmids were found in both. Two other cases have recently been reported to the Venereal Disease Reference Laboratory in London (3). Reported by AJ Patefield, MD, USAF Hospital, Osan, Korea; WG Westbrook III, MD, USAF Hospital, Yokata, Japan; NA Johnston, Venereal Diseases (Source: Communicable Disease Control, Dec 1982.)

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ROK Developments: On the national level, the draft age that had been reduced to 19 and then pushed up to 21, was reduced again to 20. It had become a political issue as the draft was universally unpopular in Korea both with the conscriptees and their parents of all income levels.

The 36 year-old midnight to four a.m. curfew is lifted nationwide, except for coastal regions and areas vulnerable to infiltration. The curfew was first imposed by the US Military Government in Kroea on 8 Sept 1945 and had continued as a means of insuring national security. The meanseure comes after a government decision to reinforce police manpower. Security measures at USFK installations and pass policies would be governed by local command policies. (Source: The US Military Experience in Korea 1871-1982, p235, Command Historian’s Office, USFK/EUSA)

Under the upgrade programs for the ROK military, the first domestically made fighter F-5F named Ceykong was issued. In addition, Korea’s first domestic patrol vessel PCC was launched.

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1983
Songtan-Pyeongtaek share the same fire station The first fire station for Songtan was built in Nov 1958. On 1 Sep 1983, both Pyeongtaek and Songtan shared the same fire department.
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Preparation for Large Force Employment (LFE) Exercise (31 Nov 1983) (36th Fiends Site)

Preparation for Large Force Employment (LFE) Exercise (31 Nov 1983) (36th Fiends Site)

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ROKAF TACC Operational The Tactical Air Control Center at Osan was renovated in 1981 and became fully operational in 1983. The Theater Air Control Center had a full control over all air operations. Reconnaissance aircraft and air defense radar sites informed the center about potentially hostile aircraft before they entered South Korean airspace. In wartime this capability was expected to allow South Korean air controllers more time to assess threat and the ability quickly to communicate orders to interceptor aircraft and surface-to-air missile sites. (Source: GlobalSecurity.org: ROKAF Bases)

The concept of centralized control/decentralized execution was the basic premise around which the TACS was structured, and it offered some obvious advantages. The main advantage was that the air component commander has the ability to allocate and reallocate his limited resources as he saw fit to support the objectives of the joint force commander. But the effects of fog and friction in war required some decisions made at the air component commander level and in the TACC to be delegated to lower levels.

Another factor that cannot be ignored is that with improvements in technology and the deployment of more advanced command and control equipment and communications, the ACC will often have instant access to lower elements in the TACS. As a result, the ACC and other high-level commanders will face the temptation to “micromanage” the activities and responsibilities of commanders at lower levels. This micromanagement will encourage lower-level commanders to “seek guidance,” some of which may be time critical, in order to “cover their butts.” The overall result, then, will be rigidity in command and control, something that has been criticized as a weakness in the Soviet command and control system.

Another possible problem is the effect of friction on span of control. An air component commander, far removed from the battle area, may not be the best qualified person to exercise detailed control of unemployment. He would probably be more effective in monitoring the overall situation, planning future courses of action and assigning general tasks and resource to subordinates.

Additionally, the evolution of electronic warfare leads one to be skeptical about the new “secure” and “jam-resistant” technologies that are supposed to provide instantaneous and continuous pictures of events in the air and on the battlefield Command and control technologies of the future may well be effective in the short-term, but a way to counter them will almost certainly be developed; and even if not, the asset will be a high-priority item on the enemy’s target list.

Perhaps the biggest problem with centralized control is the danger that the, TACS is vulnerable at the apexes of control. Because the air component commander and other agencies within the TACC must make many decisions, the loss of this element alone could cause chaos in the TACS. We must therefore make sure that we take every step necessary to ensure that the TACS degrades gracefully, not with a Bang!

(Source: TAC System, Buchanan, 1987)

The TACC would evolve into the AOC after the Combined Field Command (CFC) came into existence.

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KAL 007: KAL 007, a Korean Air Lines 747 jet, was shot down by a Soviet fighter near Sakhalin, killing all 269 passengers on board. It is believed the KAL pilot made a serious navigational error and failed to correct it. The Soviets claimed that the pilot disregarded repeated attempts by the Soviet fighters to leave Soviet airspace. However, there was an American spy surveillance plane nearby which recorded the conversations. In a media blitz, the U.S. released the tape that showed the Soviet commander giving the command to shoot the plane down. At first the Soviets claimed the aircraft blackbox could not be reached, but later it was shown that it was retrieved. Years later, the KAL 007 black box was obtained by Korea in “exchange” for promised aid to the faltering Russian economy after the collapse of the Soviet empire. Initially, the tape was missing, but later retrieved. It was analyzed but did not reveal anything new.

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North Korean Terrorist Attack in Burma: Tension between North and South Korea increased dramatically in the aftermath of the 1983 North Korean assassination attempt on President Chun Doo-hwan in Burma, which killed six members of the R.O.K. cabinet. The Aungsan Cemetery in Yangoon, Burma, was bombed by North Korean special agents. Eighteen senior Korean government officials, who were scheduled to pay respects at the cemetery were killed.

The terrorist activities of North Korea increased…some say because of the appointment of Kim Il-Sung’s son, Kim Jong-il to head the group. South Korea’s suspicions of the North’s motives were not diminished when Pyongyang accepted an earlier U.S.-R.O.K. proposal for tripartite talks on the future of the Korean Peninsula, in which “South Korean authorities” would be permitted to participate.

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1984

Songbuk Elementary School (1984) (Songbuk Elementary School)

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Songtan Gets New Fire Station and Police Station Reflecting its new status as a city, Songtan City started to construct new fire and police stations. The first fire station for Songtan was built in Nov 1958. On 30 Nov 1984, a new fire station opened up in Songtan. This fire station was located on the MSR-1 next to where the present Korea Telecom is located. (SEE Songtan Fire Station.)

Songtan has had a police box was established at the intersection of Shinjang Mall Road and Tanhyeon Road (MSR-1) dating back to the early 1960s. On 1 Dec 1984, a small police station was opened in Songtan as well. It is located at the same location as in the 1960s at the intersection across from the Songbuk Farmers’ Market. (Source: Pyeongtaek History, Pyeongtaek Si Sa) (NOTE: In 2005, there was also the Songtan Police Section in Seojong next to the Seojong Farmers’ Market that was established when Seojong-ni became Seojong-myeon in the 1980s. When Seojong-myeon became part of Songtan City in 1981, it became part of the Songtan-shi Police Department.)
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Remicon Plant Opens in Songtan Han Il Enterprises completes a remicon plant in Songtan in July 1984. This reflects the Miracle of the Han reaching Songtan and the surrounding areas. Remicon (ready mixed concrete) is essential in the construction industry — and indicates that there was going to be sustained construction in the area — for factories and apartments.

Aragon Alley Outside Main Gate (1984) (Mike Dunnagan)

Aragon Alley Outside Main Gate (1984) (Mike Dunnagan)

Overpass Bridge to Main Gate (1984) (Mike Dunnagan)

MSR1 leading to Main Gate (1984) (Mike Dunnagan) (NOTE: The sign is written in Chinese characters and there is a Lions Club shield in the center. “Songtan” is written in hangul (Korean) on the lower right leg of the arch.)

Railroad Track area (1984) (Mike Dunnagan)

(SOURCE: The photos of Mike Dunnagan, former A1C, 51st Civil Engineering Squadron (1984-85); Osan Retired Activities Office; and Osan AB History Web Page)

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HQ USAF Approves New Housing for Mustang Village area HQ USAF approved the construction of 200 additional apartment units adjacent to the Mustang Valley Village leased housing area. Support facilities provided by the USAF were programmed as an FY 1975 military construction project. The Korean National Housing Corporation (KNHC) would construct the housing on a build-to-lease basis under an agreement similar to that used for the Mustang Valley complex. Occupancy was planned for 1987, although land acquistition for the project remained an unresolved issue at the close of 1984. (Source: 1984 HQ USFK/EUSA History.)

(NOTE: This construction did NOT take place immediately. This construction was not started until 2003 — almost twenty years later. This was because of slippages due to land procurement and freezes in new construction funding because of the Nunn-Warner Initiative in 1990. The Nunn-Warner Initiative in Korea was to reduce the forces by 25% but was put off after the North started their nuclear shenanigans in 1994. However, what did happen was that there was an indefinite freeze on construction that lasted a decade. Other delays was the reprioritizations due to the MOU signed by the ROK in 1990 over the closing of Yongsan and moving the troops to Osan AB and Camp Humphreys. The ROK dragged their feet of this measure because they did not want to foot the costs of the move. No action was taken until Sec of Defense Donald Rumsfield put his foot down in Jan 2003.)
Mustang Valley Village opened in 1980 with 201 units. As of December 1980, there were 14 US government owned houses and 201 leased apartments in Mustang Valley Village (MVV). In 2005, there were still only 210 family housing units. Family Housing consisted of 199 MVV units, 8 Senior Officer Quarters (SOQ) and 3 General Officer Quarters (GOQ). The new housing construction was nearing completion in 2005.)

Off-base Housing However, the lack of on-base housing was off-set by the opening of new apartments in Songtan in the late-1970s, called the Foreigners’ Apartments near the present Jisan Stream Road. The housing was small cramped and totally inadequate by reports. According to Kim Jae-won, owner of the Asia Hotel, but employed at the time at the Base Housing Office, these units were constructed by the Pyeongtaek-gun authority while Songtan was still “Songtan Eup” (town). He referred to their construction as “dormitory” type and was constructed because the base had requested additional housing. According to Curley Knepp, then with the Audit Office, when he was shown these apartments, he could believe how small, cramped and dirty they were with holes in the walls.

In the mid-1980s, small apartments were constructed by the Korean National Housing Corporation (KNHC) with a lease agreement to the USAF along Burak Mountain Road. Because of the lack of dependent families, the “Air Force Village” was opened up to all-ranks. According to Curley Knepp, who lived near the Air Force Village, there was a small BX and laundromat on the site that he used. Only about half of the Air Force Village was USAF and the other half was open to the Korean populace because there simply were not enough command sponsored families to fill the apartments. This “Air Force Village” became known as “Miguk Apatu” (Foreigner Apartments). (NOTE: The complex was later surrounded by a chain-link fence with barbed wire on top, along with a Korean gateman who checked IDs at the gate.)

Besides the Air Force Village, the area was barren. In the mid-1980s, the Segyeong Apartments were being constructed, but Dongsan Apartments had not been built as yet. However, from the roads being laid out and the telephone poles, the plans were already in the works for the entire area. Near the Songtan City Hall there was a small cluster of restaurants and buildings, but very little else. (NOTE: According to Kim Jae-won, this area was once filled with kilns originally used for charcoal, but later converted to fire kimchi pots. He remembered walking through this area and there was a gradual slope up towards the City Hall area at the base of the Burak Mountain.)

There were some houses along MSR-1, but there was actually mostly rice fields in this area. Frank Schreier lived in the Air Force Village in 1986 and commented in Sep 2005, “The AF had apartments off base they used to house people back in the 80s and 90s꿌 think when 9/11 happened, they moved the last of the residents out of there.” He continued about the pictures below, “As you can probably tell, these pics are towards the back, facing away from town towards City Hall. All of that are was nothing but open fields and hills back in those days, all the way down to the next small town (I forget the name of it now, the one where the train station is). I used to jog past the fire station all the way down to that small town, make a loop in the town, then head up to the next road and head back to AF village. Hardly any cars on the road in those days, and very few buildings along the way except of course that small town, and Songtan itself.” (NOTE: The low-rise three-story apartments in Seojong-ni had not been built yet. The fire station had been relocated from Milwal-dong across from where the Capital Hotel is now when the road was widened. The fire station was located along the MSR-1 next to where the Korea Telecom building is now.)

Air Force Village looking towards Songtan City Hall (1986) (Frank Schreier) (NOTE: Songtan City Hall is to the right in background. The first row of the Segyong Apartments (5-story) are going up.)

Air Force Village looking towards Pyeongtaek (1986) (Frank Schreier) (NOTE: The construction on Seojong Tourism Road has not started as yet. Notice the gentle slope of the land leading up to Songtan City Hall. According to Kim Jae-won this area used to covered with kilns used for kimchi pots. Previously these kilns were used for charcoal. Songtan’s name comes from “pine” (song) and “charcoal” (tan). This area and the area near Seotan were noted for charcoal production. Tanhyeon-dong near the present Songbuk Farmers’ Market, was noted in 1756 as having numerous charcoal kilns which provided charcoal for Seoul — as only charcoal could be used inside the Seoul city walls by royal dictate.)
There were other American style houses in the Mokcheon area and in the Namsan area that agreed to use American-style lease agreements (with military clauses) that were constructed near the base. Starting in the 1970s. By and large these houses were considered sub-standard. The newer homes in the Mokcheon area was considered the upper-end construction for these apartments.

Frank Schreier commented in Sep 2005, “Yes, when I was here in the 80뭩 there was a set of apartments near where new route 1 and the old route 1 intersect to form that Y and I believe those were the 밼oreigner apartments you뭨e talking about. Back in those days, there weren뭪 that many apartments, so to speak. The only other apartments I can remember back at that time were Hondo apartments, big green ugly ones near the new subway station. There were more, I뭢 sure, but then in those days most guys that lived off base lived in a house. Rent was cheap back then ?I don뭪 remember ever paying more than $250 for a nice big place with oil heat. Try finding something like that now.”

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New Joint Military Installation Developments In February 1983, USFK staffs, under the aegis of Acofs, J1, commenced planning for development of a new joint Army/Air Force installation, to include 3,400 family housing units. One of the primary purposes of the plan was to allow a significant increase in accompanied tours for personnel assigned ot Osan and Suwon Air Bases and Camp Humphreys. The plan also envisioned relocating 1,600 personnel from the 501st Military Intelligence Group, 2d Engineer Group, and 1st Signal Brigade, plus support personnel, to the new installation during the 1986-1990 time frame.

The new complex, if approved, would occupy approximately 1,000 acres of land near Osan AB. Cost to the ROK government was estimated at $580 million ($150 million for land acquistion and $430 million for Korea National Housing Corporation (KNHC) build-to-lease family housing). Initial construction cost to the US for mission and support facilities was estimated at $220 million. Facility requirements included a hardened facility for the 501st MI Group, other related mission support facilities, family housing, unaccompanied personnel housing, and community support facilites. MCA and related programming and concept design work for operation and support facilities were initiated during 1984. This project would signifiantly reduce personnel turbulence, improve operational efficiency and continuity, and enhance the quality of life for USFK personnel. This would be achieved in poart, through
Consolidation of dispersed 501st MI Group assets at its approved wartime contingency location to improve tasking, collection and reporting and minimize dependency on electronic communication.

Hardening of command, control and communications intelligence elements to allow continuous support to the (ROK/US) Combined Forces Command.
(Source: 1984 HQ USFK/EUSA Annual History.)

(NOTE: This move did NOT take place. Though the ROK signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in 1990 to relocate from Yongsan, the ROK did not fund the move. Though land was set aside at Osan for construction of USFK facilities and Pokchang Road was constructed to the area, but the move never took place. After much hassles with attempts to find land to relocate Army units to Camp Humphreys (or anywhere in the ROK), the USFK reverted to the “status quo” and simply postponed the relocation indefinitely.

There was a multitude of reasons starting from the Mayor of Pyeongtaek City and City Council members saying they did NOT want the the move into the area. The Ministry of Defense did NOT want the 501st Military Intelligence Group to relocate from Yongsan as the ROK military was solely dependent on US intelligence. Also in 1990, the Nunn-Warner Initiative sought to reduce the forces in Korea dramatically.

Unfortunately, in the midst of all this turmoil, all military construction programs also came to a halt as well. Buildings started to deteriorate and upgrade projects stagnated. In 1994, the nuclear brinkmanship of Kim Il-Sung brought any troop moves or withdrawals to a standstill. Unfortunately, military construction programs remained on a hold. Only after 1999 was military construction funds again opened and the contracts that had been on a hold started. However, the caveat was that this was for “old” contracts that had already been on the books.

When the City of Pyeongtaek demanded in 2000 the land that lay unused for the USFK relocation, the ROK Ministry of Defense transferred the land to the the ROKAF to form the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Operations Command (AFOC). (Source: Pyeongtaek Si Sa (Pyeongtaek City History))

The ROKAF occupies an significant area within Osan AB, and expanded into land that had originally been purchased to accommodate the relocation of forces from Yongsan Army Garrison. The new AFOC headquarters is located in the expansion area. (Source: RAO: Osan History.)

AOC (2002) (Jack Terwiel)

AOC (2002) (Jack Terwiel)
The major problem with the CFC function of the AFOC is that the US has all the “real-time” intelligence — which at times it is reluctant to share with its ROK counterparts in peacetime.

In 2000, after over a decade of delays, Pyeongtaek City demanded the land be returned. Swiftly, the Ministry of Defense transferred the lands to the ROKAF and the Air Force Operations Command (AFOC) was built. In 2004, after a decade of stalls on the move from Yonsan, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield simply said, the US was going to move out of Yongsan after all the ROK stalling and bawling over monies. The implied threat was that if the ROK did not fund the move, the forces would be forced to relocate “elsewhere.” In 2005, under the “unit of action” realignment, many units are relocating stateside as there is no place for them at Camp Humphreys. Non-essential Army units are being sent from Camp Humphreys to Camp Stanley, while the smaller “units of action” are being relocated to Camp Humphreys.)

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Unusual Murder Case at Osan One murder case in 1984 had unique SOFA implications. On 26 November 1984, an Air Force General Court-Martial at Osan Air Base tried Staff Sergeant Clyde E.D. Mansfield on charge of premeditated murder. He was found guilty and, on 27 November, sentenced to life imprisonment. In early February 1984, the sergeant, who was stationed at an Air Force site in California, traveled to Korea on leave and located and killed a Korean national. The victim was the ex-husband of the sergeants girlfriend, who also lived in CONUS. Sergeant Mansfield then returned to his duty station in California before he became a suspect in the case. The case presented a complicated legal issue concerning jurisdiction and venue because Sergeant Mansfield had never been stationed in Korea and the US had no extradition treaty with the ROK. After a series of negotiations, the ROK government consented to have Sergeant Mansfield brought to Korea to be tried by US military court-martial. In essence, the ROK government granted an “advanced waiver of jurisdiction,” without which Sergeant Mansfield may have escaped trial completely. (Source: 1984 HQ USFK/EUSA Annual History.)
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U2 Crashes Olympic Game U-2 aircraft, crashed at Osan Air Base, Korea, on 21 May 1984 totally destroying all airborne systems on board. (Source: AF Intelligence Service) 68-10333 art.#055 Crashed on 22 May 1984 at Osan AB, Korea, due to problems with engine mounts which caused the tail to blow off. USAF Pilot: Dave Bonzi survived, U-2R was shipped back to Beale AFB, CA and destroyed. No other details. (Source: Blackbirds: U-2 Tail Number)

A second Olympic Game U-2 aircraft, crashed at Osan Air Base on 8 October 1984, destroying the airborne system and data link system. (Source: AF Intelligence Service) 68-10340 art.#062 Lost on 5 October 1980 at Osan AB, Korea. USAF Pilot: Cleveland H. Wallace survived. No other details. (Source: Blackbirds: U-2 Tail Number)
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36th TFS F-4E 347 (36th Fiends Site)

F-4E Crash On 25 Oct 1984, an F-4E aircraft of the 36 TFS was lost off the West coast of Korea. Both crew members ejected safely. (Source: 36th Fiends History.)

F-4s over Osan (1984) (USAF Photo)

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ROK-US Military Programs: In May 1984, ROK-US combined air-ground exercises were carried out.

A ROK-US memorandum of agreement was concluded on the ROK-US WRSA and the sale of stockpiled US supplies to South Korea. (NOTE: This offer for sales has expired because of Congressional constraints. The WRSA (War Readiness Stock — Allies) program was to assist allies financially with the costs of maintaining their defense. The US was providing 90 percent of the war reserve ammunition for the ROK at no cost — munitions earmarked for the ROK, but still US munitions until released. In 2000, the US started urging the ROK to take over the WRSA stocks for its forces as it was then one a G-12 nation. In 2003, the US stated the it was unilaterally withdrawing Korea from the WRSA program. In Dec 2004, it stopped accountability procedures and the program was to cease in 2006. Stocks for 90 days were to be maintained, but the ROK in its lack of action will only have 10 days of ammunition in case of war. As of Sep 2005, the problem was unresolved with the ROK hoping the US would “donate” munitions to upgrade its stocks for JDAMS smart bombs under FMS grants. Chances of this happening were slim as the ROK has refused in 2004 to fund its “share” of its defense costs alienating many within the US defense community and in Congress.)
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Team Spirit 1984: In early 1984 P-unit A-7′s deployed to Kunsan AB to test deployment procedures. According to F-117A Black Jet, “In early 1984 the P-unit A-7D’s deployed to Kunsan Air Base, Soth Korea to participate in Team Spirit 1984. The word was purposely leaked that the 4450th TG A-7D’s were carrying supersecret atomic antiradar devices that would render the airplane invisible. To maintain the deception, each A-7D was outfitted with old napalm canisters painted black with a flashing red danger light in the rear. The canisters carried a radiation warning tag over an ominous-looking slot on which was printed: “Reactor Cooling Fill Port.” When the 4450th TG deployed carrying these bogus devices, Air Police closed down the base and ringed the field with machine gun-toting jeeps. They forced all the runway personal to turn their backs to the A-7′s as they taxied past, and actually had them spread-eagled on the deck with their eyes closed until the 4450th TG A7′s took off. Col. Al Whitley later recalled “Real crazy stuff. But the deception actually worked.”
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ROK Developments: In May 1984, ROK-US combined air-ground exercises were carried out. A ROK-US memorandum of agreement was concluded on the ROK-US WRSA and the sale of stockpiled US supplies to South Korea. (NOTE: In 2005, the US was discontinuing the WRSA-K which provided up to 90 percent of the War Reserve Munitions — but the ROK had taken no provisions to restockpile. The situation was unresolved as of May 2005.)

Surprisingly, after a flood in the South, the North offered humanitarian aid to the South in Sep 1984. For the first time in history, North Korea sent rice to flood victims in South Korea through the Red Cross. North Korea’s provision of relief goods to victims of severe flooding in South Korea in September 1984 led to revived dialogue on several fronts: Red Cross talks to address the plight of separated families, economic and trade talks, and parliamentary talks. The semi-official contacts between the Red Cross of the two Koreas, led to the first family reunion of 50 people from each side in September 1985. Due to the domestic situation in the course of democratization in South Korea, however, no further improvement in relations followed and hostility between the two Koreas remained.