Good morning. I am SGT Park, Sang won from Eighth Army G3/OMD Training and Exercise Division.
...
... I would also like to thank soldiers, NCOs, officers, families and friends for being with us today.
Today, 30 of my fellow KATUSA brothers here in Area II, 69 others from around the peninsula and I, which makes exactly one hundred of us, finish our military service as proud KATUSA soldiers. I can proudly say that the KATUSA soldiers of class of 07-01 have served our nations with all the might and all the heart that could have possibly been devoted for the last seven hundred and nine days. It is a great honor for me to make a farewell speech as a representative of this great group of proud soldiers, because I know for a fact that many of my fellow ETSing KATUSA soldiers are more qualified than I am.
I worked as an admin specialist at the Eighth Army G3/OMD Training and Exercise Division. My job title was KATUSA program management clerk. In the KATUSA Program Management office, I worked on matters concerning KATUSA soldier manning, regulations, welfare, mobilizations, training and such. I am very proud to have served in a position where my job was vital to the everyday life of my fellow KATUSA brothers. Many times during my service, I was asked various questions about policies, regulations and manning of KATUSA soldiers from various personell from all around the peninsula. Every time I was enquired, I tried to give the best answers possible, for my answers could greatly affect the enquiring unit's operaion. Although I tried to give the most correct answers every time, sometimes there were no clear-cut answers to the questions. I seek the reason from the KATUSA Program being a very open-ended program from the beginning. Clearly, after almost 60 years from the beginning of the program, I see the KATUSA Program is constantly evolving. It is evolving to best suit the ROK-US alliance in the ever diverse world of today, and I have personally witnessed its evolution in the heart of the program. The KATUSA Program is vital to the ROK-US alliance, and I'm very proud to have been a part of it.
It is challenging to be a KATUSA soldier. The role of the KATUSA soldiers itself is difficult. What makes the role more difficult is the language barrier. For most KATUSA soldiers, there is some language barrier. Despite this language barrier, KATUSA soldiers are expected to carry out the same tasks carried out by the US soldiers, and be a military diplomat and show US soldiers Korean culture. KATUSA soldiers are restricted from memory capable electronic devices and communication devices. We also had curfew at 2200. The pay was definitely not too rewarding. However, today, my KATUSA brothers and I stand here proud in the very uniforms that we had started our military service in, as proof that we have successfully served our mother nation with pride and dignity. Today, I am very proud to have been a KATUSA soldier, to have represented my country to the American soldiers. I am very proud to have been given a chance to serve my country with my flag, Taegukgi, on my right shoulder. I know my fellow KATUSA brothers feel the same way too, because when we were just starting our military service in Army training center in Nonsan, we all felt and knew the fire was in our hearts. The fire, the will to defend our nation and her dignity at any cost. And I see today that in our eyes, the fire is unchanged.
I finish my service today, knowing that the KATUSA soldiers who follow us will be just as great and proud as us class of 07-01. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart, the KATUSA soldiers who will remain here to do the best they can to defend this beautiful country. I would also like to thank truly from my soul the US soldiers who are far away from homes to be a part of the effort to defend the Republic of Korea.
Lastly, I wish my fellow ETSing KATUSAs the best of everything in the future endeavours. I look foward to seeing many of you as great leaders of Korea and mankind. But for now, let's go out there and have some fun. I can already smell all the beer and tequilla waiting for me.
I would like to thank again soldiers, NCOs, officers, families and friends for being here with us today.
...
...
May our great mother nations be blessed with peace and prosperity.
Merry Christmas and happy new year! 같이갑시다!
...
... I would also like to thank soldiers, NCOs, officers, families and friends for being with us today.
Today, 30 of my fellow KATUSA brothers here in Area II, 69 others from around the peninsula and I, which makes exactly one hundred of us, finish our military service as proud KATUSA soldiers. I can proudly say that the KATUSA soldiers of class of 07-01 have served our nations with all the might and all the heart that could have possibly been devoted for the last seven hundred and nine days. It is a great honor for me to make a farewell speech as a representative of this great group of proud soldiers, because I know for a fact that many of my fellow ETSing KATUSA soldiers are more qualified than I am.
I worked as an admin specialist at the Eighth Army G3/OMD Training and Exercise Division. My job title was KATUSA program management clerk. In the KATUSA Program Management office, I worked on matters concerning KATUSA soldier manning, regulations, welfare, mobilizations, training and such. I am very proud to have served in a position where my job was vital to the everyday life of my fellow KATUSA brothers. Many times during my service, I was asked various questions about policies, regulations and manning of KATUSA soldiers from various personell from all around the peninsula. Every time I was enquired, I tried to give the best answers possible, for my answers could greatly affect the enquiring unit's operaion. Although I tried to give the most correct answers every time, sometimes there were no clear-cut answers to the questions. I seek the reason from the KATUSA Program being a very open-ended program from the beginning. Clearly, after almost 60 years from the beginning of the program, I see the KATUSA Program is constantly evolving. It is evolving to best suit the ROK-US alliance in the ever diverse world of today, and I have personally witnessed its evolution in the heart of the program. The KATUSA Program is vital to the ROK-US alliance, and I'm very proud to have been a part of it.
It is challenging to be a KATUSA soldier. The role of the KATUSA soldiers itself is difficult. What makes the role more difficult is the language barrier. For most KATUSA soldiers, there is some language barrier. Despite this language barrier, KATUSA soldiers are expected to carry out the same tasks carried out by the US soldiers, and be a military diplomat and show US soldiers Korean culture. KATUSA soldiers are restricted from memory capable electronic devices and communication devices. We also had curfew at 2200. The pay was definitely not too rewarding. However, today, my KATUSA brothers and I stand here proud in the very uniforms that we had started our military service in, as proof that we have successfully served our mother nation with pride and dignity. Today, I am very proud to have been a KATUSA soldier, to have represented my country to the American soldiers. I am very proud to have been given a chance to serve my country with my flag, Taegukgi, on my right shoulder. I know my fellow KATUSA brothers feel the same way too, because when we were just starting our military service in Army training center in Nonsan, we all felt and knew the fire was in our hearts. The fire, the will to defend our nation and her dignity at any cost. And I see today that in our eyes, the fire is unchanged.
I finish my service today, knowing that the KATUSA soldiers who follow us will be just as great and proud as us class of 07-01. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart, the KATUSA soldiers who will remain here to do the best they can to defend this beautiful country. I would also like to thank truly from my soul the US soldiers who are far away from homes to be a part of the effort to defend the Republic of Korea.
Lastly, I wish my fellow ETSing KATUSAs the best of everything in the future endeavours. I look foward to seeing many of you as great leaders of Korea and mankind. But for now, let's go out there and have some fun. I can already smell all the beer and tequilla waiting for me.
I would like to thank again soldiers, NCOs, officers, families and friends for being here with us today.
...
...
May our great mother nations be blessed with peace and prosperity.
Merry Christmas and happy new year! 같이갑시다!
Thank you.
December 24, 2008
MPTF, US Army Garrison Yongsan
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2009/01/15 18:22 [ ADDR : EDIT/ DEL : REPLY ]그러고보니 나도 제대한 지 벌써 반 년이나 지났구나_
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2009/01/17 21:24 [ ADDR : EDIT/ DEL ]그러고보니 나도 어느덧 거의 한달이 되가는구나.
시간이 정말 빠르긴 빨라.
군대있을땐 시간이 왜그렇게 안가던지 ㅎ