I served as an M-47 tank crewman with 2nd MTB, 40th Armor, 7th Infantry Division at Camp Beavers from September 1959 to August 1960. Anyone else out there? Thanks. Former Sp/4 Theodore Bazdorf, Alpine, CA

I was in Tank Company, 32nd Inf Regt, 7ID at Camp Hovey in 1956 and we had M-46s. In mid-1957, the division reorganized into battle groups and we became C Troop, 2nd Sqdn, 10th Cav at Camp Kaiser along with the former Division Recon Company(redesignated Troop A) and Tk Co, 17th Inf Regt(redesignated Troop B). So a tank company became a recon troop with Jeeps for scouts, 3/4 ton trucks for the mortars and a handful of M-46s.

We were fortunate to have extremely good officers and NCOs who taught us how to soldier. I was lucky enough to make sergeant as a 20 year old in April, 1958.

Fun times in '58.



Former Sergeant Richard Bridges

I was 1st stationed in Korea in 1960 at Camp Casey. I was a Truck Driver in A company 17th Transportation Bn. It was formed up in late 57 when the Army reorganized. We provided most of the 7th Inf Division transportation needs both truck and APCs. I loved driving the roads north of Casey, since there were very few non military vehicles on the road there. I had to drive up to Beavers and Kaiser weekly. I really enjoyed driving up through Greek Valley going the back way to Kaiser. I stopped off at Beavers often to eat and warm up some, since we did not have heaters in our trucks. In early 1961 I was attached to the 17th Inf Reg at Kaiser for 3 months with a few other drivers. We hauled the guys up to the DMZ for bunker work and clearing areas in the DMZ. I remember seeing that damaged train that was left inside the DMZ near Chorwon. I was pulled back to Camp Casey in May 61.

I pulled 3 more tours in Korea after this,
1969-70 at Camp Stanley and Camp St Barbara
1978-79 at Camp Humphreys
1981-82 at Camp Red Cloud.

I enjoyed all 4 tours, but the 1st 2 were the most enjoyable. I guess I liked the Wild West type life style and action of the early years the most. If any of my Sergeants from then knew that I stayed in for 22 years, they would most likely pass out. I did pretty good on promotions there, made E3 two times, and E4 once in 12 months.


Bruce Richards