The main gate leading to Camp Humphreys (Yonhap)
PYEONGTAEK, June 22 (Korea Bizwire) — One of the main gates leading to a U.S. base in South Korea will be named after a South Korean for the very first time.
U.S. Forces Korea reportedly plans to change the name of the main gate leading to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, from ‘Dongchang-ri Gate’ to ‘Yoon Gate’.
‘Yoon’ refers to retired ROK Army general Yoon Seung-kook, the only South Korean servicemember who fought in the Battle of Osan Jukmiryeong, where United Nations-led coalition forces and North Korean troops engaged for the first time during the Korean War.
The battle took place when U.S. Task Force Smith’s 540 troops engaged with 5,000 North Korean troops led by 36 tanks on July 5, 1950.
Yoon, a captain at that time, was deployed as a communication officer for the U.S. forces, stationed at a battery site to fight against North Korea. He managed to save more than 200 American troops as he led the retreat.
Camp Humphreys, upon request from the U.S. Department of Defense, reported Yoon’s achievements, awaiting the decision on changing the name of the gate.
Camp Humphreys has already installed the ‘Yoon Gate’ sign in front of the main gate, kept under wraps for an unveiling ceremony on July 2.
A U.S. 8th Army official recently told Yoon of the main gate’s renaming over a luncheon in Seoul.
Camp Humphreys has a total of six gates, one of which saw its name changed from ‘Doduri Gate’ to ‘Adams Gate’ on Dec. 17 last year in memory of Lt. Col. Stanley Adams (1922-1999), who fought in the Korean War.
“It’s an honor to become the first Korean soldier to have his name grace the main gate of a U.S. base,” Yoon said. “As a Korean War veteran, I would like to thank my brothers in arms who fought for a country they never knew.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
