I was fortunate to be a part of a new platform in Korea, ARL-M. This was definitely a unique experience for me and several other linguists. We had absolutely no reason to be assigned to this unit (it turned out), as the mission was wholly an imagery mission. I still believe that if it weren’t for the linguists and signals analysts that were assigned to the platoon the place would have fallen apart early on. Several people that I knew from DLI and Goodfellow were assigned there with me, some of whom you may be familiar with: chiprj and greywar to name a few, and I suppose vicariously xtine. This was to be my longest assignment while in the military. I served from Jan ’97 until I left the service in early 2000. I moved around a lot as a child, and was frankly sick of up and moving all the time, so I kept extending my tour. I was not the only one; there was a group of us who extended several times. I truly believe this is what led to our success as a unit. We didn’t have the problem that is common in units here, losing all of your experienced people within 3 or 4 months of each other. The one year rotation will do that to you!
    If February of ’97 I was working part time as a DJ in a bar down range. I had been introduced there by Steve Oder, a fellow NCO and the person whose job as barracks NCO I would be taking over. I guess he was trying to get me to replace him completely in Korea. It didn’t take long to figure out that I did not and would not like the owner of the bar. She made a bet with me over a dart game that went something like this: “If you lose I get to take you home, and if I lose you get to take me home.” I kicked her ass and promptly quit. Steve decided to quit that night, also. So, there we were, carrying about 1000 compact discs, in no mood to walk back to the barracks just to drop them off. Steve decided to go to another bar he was familiar with and ask if we could leave the discs there. This would change my life dramatically. This is one of those times I was talking about in my first article. This was my introduction to the Companion Club, and my future wife, Chong Mi.
    I was immediately comfortable in this bar. That is exactly what it was, a bar. Not a typical GI Juicy Club, but a genuine bar where you could have a drink and a discussion. I loved it, and I still do.
    Chong Mi served my first drink, an ice cold Cass. Ahhhh, Heaven! I talked with a few of the Air Force guys who were hanging out there and the first beer went right down, they have a habit of doing that there! Chong Mi asked if I would like another beer, Of Course! Disaster struck! She gave me an OB. Not my choice among Korean beers. Oh, well, I’m a nice guy so I didn’t say anything, just drank it down. It took a little longer than the Cass, but that was to be expected. She came back and asked if I wanted another beer. My reply? “Sure, as long as you don’t give me another OB.”
    If looks could kill! I was smitten! I knew it then, but I wouldn’t admit it for quite a long time afterward. That was truly a life changing moment.



The next part is going to be hard for me to write, please be patient, I have a lot to say and some is rather painful. I am glad I found this site; it will be good for me to share.