191st MI Detachment in Paju-ri

Forty years after I was in Paju-ri, I met the editor of a Korean language newspaper in Los Angeles. He published this article:

The middle two men in the back row were Americans; I am not in the picture as the article incorrectly states.

Here is a translation of the original article.

The newspaper published a follow up article:

Here is a translation of the follow up article.

Here is the photo of the interpreters:

Back row: Yu-ssi, Joe Ahsing, Lt. Salisbury, Charlie Oh
Front Row: Louie, Lee, Mr. Kim

Within days after the articles were published, I learned that Yu-ssi was in San Diego, Louie was in Houston, and Mr. Kim was in Virginia. I learned that Charlie Oh was deceased and Lee was still in Korea.

We met with Yu-ssi, and his wife Joanne, Yu-ssi had worked for the State of California, perhaps in a tax related department. They had three sons, and one daughter. He went into a nursing home in July 2006, and passed away in April 2009, at age 80. He was active in a Christian church and used Thomas as a first name.

And with Louie, who was running his own business in Texas, and his wife.

And I exchanged correspondence for a while with Mr. Kim, who sent me photos, articles, and a book.

Mr. Kim in Virginia

Mr. Kim in Paju-ri

Mr. Kim and Pak Chong-hee

Mr. Kim meets with D.C. Police Chief

I never had any direct contact with Lee, but I did receive this email from his son.

Here is the detachment shortly before I left.

Wade Ishimoto, front row, right, went on to become the Intelligence Officer in the Delta Force attempt to rescue the Iranian hostages.

My roommate was Thomas S. Ballou, RIP.

The compound from above:

If you were in this outfit in the sixties, please leave a comment.

Here's the 191st area in Google Earth today.

.o0o.