YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea –
If
one were to research the legacy of the Korean Service Corps, the results would
likely tie the unit's efforts to support the United States Army on the Korean
peninsula. For the unaware, this story of service actually includes chapters on
American soil. The most recent entry was added recently when the KSC sent a
team of experts to train in Virginia.
The KSC sent a team to Fort Pickett, Va. for a field training exercise Apr. 18
- May 1. The 35-member team was responsible for rapidly establishing a series
of pipes to simulate a petroleum distribution system as part of an exercise
that tested U.S. Soldiers' and the KSC's ability to place pipeline. The drill was called the Fiscal Year 2015
U.S. Forces Command Petroleum
Training Module.
Approximately 5.1 miles of pipeline was installed by the KSC Battalion's Inland
Petroleum Distribution System team, said Choe, Chong-sik, a member of the KSC.
This included one refinery station and one pumping station. This was no small
task for the KSC, given the small operating strength when compared to other
units on ground. A total of 20 miles of pipeline was
installed by all the participating units.
"The KSC team had half the personnel strength of the other teams, but the KSC
team went twice the distance in IPDS trace in the same amount of time," said
Choe.
Choe said the secret to the KSC's success is a specialized tool used for moving
pipes called a "J Hook." It was created by a member of the KSC nearly
17 years ago.
"The tool has itself become famous throughout the IPDS circles and was one
of the KSC team's secret weapons in laying down the IPDS pipelines quickly and
efficiently," said Choe. The J Hook is only known to be used by members of
the KSC.
Choe said The KSC team received a lot of accolades because of their super efficiency.
This included Lt. Col. Preston L. Stape, the commander of the 458th Engineer
Battalion.
The set up of the IPDS is one of the KSC Battalion's core wartime missions, said
Choe. The KSC Battalion conducts IPDS exercises to improve its ability and to
hone the wartime IPDS capability. During contingency, KSCs install IPDS for US
forces.
According the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command website, the KSC "was
founded on July 26, 1950, under Presidential Emergency Decree of Syngman Rhee,
leader of the Republic of Korea, in response to an urgent request for manpower
by General Walton Walker, then Commanding General, Eighth United States Army.
The Civilian Transportation Corps,