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03-09-2003, 10:10 AM
nighthawk
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 301
(8/31/01 12:35:20 pm)
| Del All homecoming in other countrys
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We often speak of the terrible way most VN vets were greeted when they came back to the states. It was not that way in some of the other countrys involved, at least not in Korea. I am not sure about Australia. Perhaps someone else here knows?
Anyway, I was in Korea from mid 1972 to mid 1973. During that time one of the ROK divisions (if memory serves me, I think it was the Whitehorse Division, but it may have been the Tiger division) returned from Vietnam. The division was given a grand parade, then the President declared a national "shopping" holiday, stating that merchants were to let the members of this division have whatever they wanted, all they had to do was sign the receipt and the merchant would be reimbursed by the Korean government. I am sure there were some sort of limits set, but not what. This was good for, I believe, a 4 or 6 hour period. If I recall correctly, it ran from the time the parade ended to curfew that night, which was at 2400 hours.The American troops in our AO (not far from Seoul) were told to return to base if they went to see the parade and stay there. It was to avoid any "incidents" between their troops and ours. I understand it was one hell of a night in the city. I think even some of the "ladies of the evening" found ways to bill the government for "services rendered". Prostitution, while not "legal" in Korea, was accepted, monitored, and taxed. I do know some of those ROK troops had quite an evening. I had a "mama-san" friend who ran a bar, and she said she made "tak-san" (much, or large amount) money!
Can not even remotely imagine something like that happening here. But it was good to see somebody get the welcome they deserved. They were heros in their country. Perhaps the communist threat meant more to them in Korea than it did to our people here in the states.
Just another memory,,,,
Stan H ,, nighthawk
Robert Harden
Member
Posts: 13
(8/31/01 12:44:47 pm)
| Del Re: homecoming in other countrys
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting night, I had no idea.
Living Life as a K-9 Officer / EagleWolf Forum
Discussion topics about Law Enforcement and anything related
- Everyone welcome.
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 301
(8/31/01 12:35:20 pm)
| Del All homecoming in other countrys
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We often speak of the terrible way most VN vets were greeted when they came back to the states. It was not that way in some of the other countrys involved, at least not in Korea. I am not sure about Australia. Perhaps someone else here knows?
Anyway, I was in Korea from mid 1972 to mid 1973. During that time one of the ROK divisions (if memory serves me, I think it was the Whitehorse Division, but it may have been the Tiger division) returned from Vietnam. The division was given a grand parade, then the President declared a national "shopping" holiday, stating that merchants were to let the members of this division have whatever they wanted, all they had to do was sign the receipt and the merchant would be reimbursed by the Korean government. I am sure there were some sort of limits set, but not what. This was good for, I believe, a 4 or 6 hour period. If I recall correctly, it ran from the time the parade ended to curfew that night, which was at 2400 hours.The American troops in our AO (not far from Seoul) were told to return to base if they went to see the parade and stay there. It was to avoid any "incidents" between their troops and ours. I understand it was one hell of a night in the city. I think even some of the "ladies of the evening" found ways to bill the government for "services rendered". Prostitution, while not "legal" in Korea, was accepted, monitored, and taxed. I do know some of those ROK troops had quite an evening. I had a "mama-san" friend who ran a bar, and she said she made "tak-san" (much, or large amount) money!
Can not even remotely imagine something like that happening here. But it was good to see somebody get the welcome they deserved. They were heros in their country. Perhaps the communist threat meant more to them in Korea than it did to our people here in the states.
Just another memory,,,,
Stan H ,, nighthawk
Robert Harden
Member
Posts: 13
(8/31/01 12:44:47 pm)
| Del Re: homecoming in other countrys
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting night, I had no idea.
Living Life as a K-9 Officer / EagleWolf Forum
Discussion topics about Law Enforcement and anything related
- Everyone welcome.