FW: 25 Years Ago Part XVII
I cannot recall what day in April I returned to Korea. Again it was a journey of three and I was once more the low man on the totem pole. I traveled with a pair of Specialist Fifth Class ranked fellows from my platoon. One fellow was married and came from Alabama and I will refer to him as CB for Country Boy. The other guy was a Jamaican chap. He was single and I enjoyed his company. This guy had an interesting past which included time serving with the British Army. I shall refer to him as Jam.
Once more we flew to San Francisco where we caught our MAC (Military Airlift Command) flight out of Travis Air Force Base. The Flying Tiger 747 carried us through Anchorage on to Yakota, Japan and finally Osan, Korea. I could have kissed the ground when I exited the plane. I inhaled the warm humid air, which greatly contrasted to the cold and snow of winter I had left in February. Where only three months earlier I arrived nervous and unsure of myself, at this time I was giddy and anxious to find Suki. Her picture rested in my pocket by my heart and I received a pair of letters to further fan my passion. These letters were promises that she waited for me, her yobo to return and hold her in my arms. And I aimed to meet her again this day.
We gathered our bags and tool kits and flagged a cab for Seoul. The cab passed the Songtan Hotel (I called it the Osan Hotel by mistake in an earlier post) and the cruelty of its location incited my anxiety. I wondered if Suki worked there at that moment as we drove by. But I could not stop, for the Army has no passion for anything besides duty. Duty demanded the traveling trio report to headquarters in Seoul. They would know if we delayed our travel. The three of us did not know where we were going. All we knew it had to do with Operation Fastback, the same project I worked on at Yongsan.
The Korean countryside was beautiful with all of the snow banished by Spring. Green fields interrupted by rice patties flanked the highway. Lovely homes painted white and covered with red tiles must have been inviting to the owner when he returned. Would Suki and I share a home someday? A pair of Air Force jets shook our cab as they sped north. I was reminded that these roads we drove on now were cut straight and level. They would be alternative or overflow landing strips in time of war. Lots of things in Korea were designed to help for the defense in times of war.
After a time the countryside gave way to tenements and sky high apartments of Seoul. I loved seeing the mountains of the city. I wondered about Miss Kim and the New York Club. When I could I would visit her too. Would Jin be around? What would I do if I ever saw her again? The highway gave way to the madness of Korean streets and Hyundai Colts. The kimchi brakes (horn honking) were evident as we winded our way through the city.
We survived the drive and reported to the Operations Sergeant. At this time we learned we would be going to Camp Humphreys. This is located in Pyeong-Taek province. There is a city of the same name which has a suburb that is the location of the ville. That ville is called Anjung-Ri by the locals. Headquarters issued orders and rations card to us. The ration card was important as it would allow me to purchase American cigarettes, alcohol, and mayonnaise.
They called a cab for the traveling trio and we returned south retracing our steps. I thought this would work out really good for me and Suki. JB had stayed at the Songtan Hotel when he worked at Camp Humphreys. That was how he met Choon, who danced in the hotel’s bar. That’s where I believed Suki worked as well. We passed the Songtan Hotel and it felt like such a cruel joke not being able to enter. The cab turned left taking us east and out of the shops and homes of Songtan.
Now we drove through farmlands on small roads with only one lane going in either direction. We had a laugh as we saw a pair of farmers running along the side of the road on a dirt farm track that separated the road from rice paddies. They looked comical shouting out and waving there arms. Then we saw the source of their distress. They chased a pony that was pulling a cart full of fertilizer. The poor beast was frightened and offal fell out of the cart as it ran alongside us.
We drove about fifteen minutes before we hit a more trafficked area with a lot of homes. And then I spotted signs that told me we had reached the ville. Shops with signs in English told me this was the place. And then you could see the girls hanging out in front of the bars waiting for the evening to come. The ladies were enjoying the comfortable late afternoon breeze. If you follow this link you will see the entrance to Camp Humphreys. Those buildings look exactly as I recall them so long ago. The barracks look brand new however.
The cab was not permitted on base so we unloaded our gear and walked it inside the perimeter. The MPs checked our papers and gear. A truck arrived and carried us into a special part of the base. We were actually in a base, inside the base. This area had barracks, its own gym, the communications center where we would work, and it even had a massage parlor. The thing I found funny was that the cafeteria was located outside our fence. So they trusted the massage girls but not the Army chefs. Go figure.
This was more like the Korea I had heard of from other GIs. As we passed the gym we could see men inside perfecting their Tae Kwan Do skills. As soon as I received my bunk assignment the chogi boy showed up. Chogi translates into there and chogi boy is a worker that goes “there” to do things for you. I paid him a dollar a day and he made my bunk, cleaned my clothes, and shined my boots. Though I had to keep him away from my work shoes as they were not to be polished. I would have no problems soldiering here, since the chogi boy would keep me out of trouble.
Our project sergeant was busy and he figured we would be dead from jet lag, so he released us for the evening. We would have to report to the Sergeant bright and early after breakfast. But I had no desire to rest. I had the memory of a kiss from Suki and the unspoken promise that it carried. I took a quick shower and changed into some clean clothes. Then I walked to the front gate. The MPs hassled me a bit, as I did not have a pass. But my orders were all I needed to leave and they let me proceed. I caught a cab that waited for business just outside the gate.
Once again I retraced my path and the 15 minutes passed slowly. Painfully. I wanted to see Suki so badly. I paid the cabbie and stepped inside the Songtan Hotel lobby. Mr. Lee greeted me immediately. He remembered me from just those few minutes back in February. He asked me how I was. I told him I needed a room for the night and he gave me a $20 rate. I asked about Suki and he told me that she only worked in the hotel during the weekends. She danced in another club on the weekdays.
He suggested that I go ahead and have a seat in the club and he would inform Suki that I was there. So I sat at one the small tables in the hotel’s bar drinking OBs and watching tubby Korean go-go dancers. I had been sitting there a while when Choon arrived. She smiled so sweetly when I saw her. I stood up and we bowed to each other like Koreans do and she sat down and we tried to talk. She tried to ask about JB, who was due in the next week for his new permanent duty at Osan’s Bucket site. I asked about Suki. Then Choon went out of the bar. I just waited. Time passed. I drank beer after beer. Where was Suki? At about 11 Choon came in with a cab driver. She said if I paid him he would bring Suki from her work. I did so without a second thought.
Time passed. Choon sat with me. We were quietly contemplating. Choon looked comfortable there. I was tired, drunk, and infatuated to the point of anxiety. Every second ticked like a hammer matching my finger tapping upon the table. In school I had been a drummer and as the disco beat pumped and the fat girls gyrated I kept a steady staccato with my fingers. Choon smiled but avoided meeting my eyes.
Then the world stopped. Suki walked in the bar. Choon smiled, greeted Suki and then she faded away from my evening. Suki carried a heavy box the held her go-go outfits and shoes. Her dress was jet black just like her feathered hair. I looked into her eyes and I could see happiness in them. Our lips met and we pressed our bodies together as one. Oblivious to all those around us.
The next thing I remember is we are in my room and she laid on the bed wearing a smile, her stockings, and the mattress. Legs open, inviting like a centerfold for my camera eye. The cigarette tasted so good after we had consummated our bond. We lay tangled like cats purring, “Yobo sarang hapnida.” Could life get any better I wondered? Two months of waiting, well done. I had someone to love me. Not some sloppy round eye, but a Korean pearl.
Sometimes you need to stop and read the warning label though.
April 4th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Oh no… she doesn’t turn into Jin The Sequel does she?!?!
June 8th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
hi there…i think your memoirs are very interesting.i was looking for those earlier parts (before XVII) but couldnt find it…
June 8th, 2006 at 11:24 pm
I will take a look Pink Cotton. Thanks for letting me now.
Also welcome to my blog.
June 8th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
I tested them all and they worked for me. Are you going to Part XVI Pink Cotton? Because I did a voice blog for that. You will see an icon to click and then you can hear my hamsun voice.