Camp Murray Bids "Anyong Hui Kasayo" To The Lee Family
Photos & Story by SPC Charles Ames Posted Jul, 1999
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For the last 8 months Camp Murray has had an unassuming and hard-working guest. Mr. Sang Jin Lee, a Personnel Management specialist from the South Korean government, has worked alongside our own mobilization staff to better understand how the United States Army and Air National Guard is able to call up it's "Citizen Soldiers" so quickly and efficiently, a capability that is the envy of the free world.
Mr. Lee was sent to the United States on a 2-year research fellowship program. After working with the Washington Secretary of State and with Representative Dave Schmidt, himself a Washington Army National Guardsman, Mr. Lee came to Camp Murray, to work with MAJ John Wunsch, our Mobilization Plans Officer, and with the Emergency Management Division, also located on Camp Murray.
Said MAJ Wunsch, "Mr. Lee was quite impressed by the fact that each state had a local military organization under it's control with which to respond to emergencies. He was also quite interested in the interface between the Guard and the civilian employers through organizations such as the ESGR (Employee Support to the Guard and Reserve)."
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For our part, we certainly did not pass up the opportunity to learn more about the South Korea's policies and practices! During his stay with us Mr. Lee met with many of our officers here on Camp Murray, and with representatives of the Washington government to further a mutual understanding. One of the mediums of exchange was social. The Lee family hosted numerous dinners for their hosts during their stay and were very interested in American culture. They traveled about the Pacific Northwest extensively.
The Korean peninsula is one of the primary potential trouble spots to which the military personnel of the Pacific Northwest might find themselves deployed. In fact, relationships exist between units of the Washington Army National Guard and the 2nd Infantry Division, which is the primary American Army unit in South Korea. Of the active duty units stationed at Fort Lewis, one is actually a part of the 2nd Infantry Division, and another is a part of the 25th Infantry Division, headquartered in Hawaii with a primary responsibility to respond to conflict in the Asian and Pacific Theatres.
As his stay with us came to a close on Tuesday, the 23rd of September, Mr. Lee said his farewells to the Guardsmen who had become his friends. Unbeknownst to Mr. Lee, his co-workers had prepared a special recognition for him. A small ceremony was held in which Mr. Lee was awarded the State of Washington Commendation Medal. The award was presented by Brigadier General Lee Legowik, the Commander of the Washington Army National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General. BG Legowik personally thanked Mr. Lee for his work in furthering the long-standing bond between our two countries.
Mr. Lee was initially accompanied on his visit to the United States by his wife and son. However, this July Mrs. Lee gave birth to a daughter here in Tacoma. In fact, the Lee's son was born in the US on a previous visit to Virginia. Our best wishes go with the Lee family as they return to Korea. The friends he has made here will miss him.
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