Army
Security Agency
ONLINE
USASA Korea Det "L" - "M" Courtesy of Coke Poe
07-25-00
Coke Poe,31L20
My name is Byron "Coke" Poe I was a 31L20 - Multichannel Communications
Technician and 31E20 - Field Radio Repairman. I enlisted in November of
1973 and told my recruiter all I wanted was a trip overseas. After a cold
winter experience in Fort Jackson, SC - (still the six week Vietnam basic),
a short prep course at Fort Sill OK, and a long summer at Fort Gordon GA I
received orders for USASA FS Korea. I arrived in October of 1974 and after
"hanging out" for three days I was told I'd be going to one of the border
sites. At first I was a little apprehensive about living in the back yard
of North Korea but once I arrived at my OJT site I became completely
relaxed. We had what equated to a single family house on top of a mountain
with two bedrooms and one bath, a kitchen, dining room, living area, and oh
yes, an operations room. There were four G.I.s at each of the three sites
and our sole purpose was to keep the operations room operating. Twice a
week a helicopter would bring us food, mail, movies and replacement
equipment as needed. This was the only time we wore a uniform. We had a
staff of Koreans living on the site in seperate quarters including a diesel
generator operator, full time cook, a houseboy and nine security guards who
kept watch of the perimeter of the site. After my OJT on Detachment "K/D" I
was transferred to Det "L" which was the only site situated within the
buffer zone. Things were a little more fun here for we were in plain view
of the DMZ. I regret not extending for another year here for after my 13
month tour I was sent back to the states for a finale at Fort Devens
working in the training center repair shop. I hope some of my friends find
this site and re-establish contact.
