How was your experience being stationed in South Korea and do you miss it?

It was one of my favorite tours. I was there twice during the same assignment - let me explain. I was on a "remote" one year tour and elected to bring my family (personal reasons). Lived off post which was a challenge at the time. I was on station for four months, sent back to the US for a four month school, and then sent back to complete my tour.

I was with the UN command and was partnered with a Korean officer who was a pleasure to work with. The military experience was remarkable - lots of stories for later postings.

I was assigned there during the first Gulf war. It was interesting conversation with the Koreans as we watched CNN report on the war while we sat on watch in a bunker. Upon my departure, I was given a granite boring taken from tunnel #4 dug by the North Koreans and recently discovered by the South.

16 months in a squad tent, a canvas cot w/ mosquito netting, fragrant Miticide insect repellant mopped onto the wooden tent floors and having our clothing dipped into the same Miticide, 4 hour tours on guard duty in the winter, walking a klic to the shower point, washing up and shaving in a metal wash bowl that was cleaned by each user scouring it with dirt, a 6 holer latrine, piss tubes right next to the MSR into Camp Casey. No, I don't miss it!

I spent 17 years avoiding a tour in Korea based on all the stories I had heard and was disappointed when my efforts to go to Iraq in 2006-2007 were thwarted by the Korea tour. However, my year in 2ID and CRC was great! I tour the country, learned some of the language, learned to eat a wide variety of that I had been missing, and taught English at a migrant workers center. Both work and play was fantastic. I was disappointed when my friends and subordinated for that matter refused to leave "American" soil. I have visited on leave a couple times and hope to visit again in the coming years.