Soldiers and Volunteers Serve Up Support for Pocheon Seniors

07 August 2025

From 1st Lt. Jonathan Sauls, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, joined local volunteers and members of the 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, in a day of service and celebration for the elderly residents of Pocheon, South Korea.

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A U.S. Soldier assigned to 2-23 Infantry Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, carries supplies alongside People to People International (PTPI) volunteers during a community outreach event in Pocheon, South Korea, Aug. 7, 2025. In collaboration with 210th Field Artillery Brigade, Soldiers and PTPI members teamed up to serve local elders with food and support during the summer senior community event.

A singer in traditional dress greets a smiling senior citizen during the PTPI-hosted event, blending Korean cultural heritage and personal connection in the wake of recent regional floods.

U.S. Army Soldiers from 2-23IN, 1SBCT, 4ID, work alongside Korean volunteers to distribute food to local seniors during a People to People International event in Pocheon, South Korea, Aug. 7, 2025. The program aimed to uplift community morale through service and cultural exchange.

Volunteers from People to People International (PTPI), U.S. Soldiers from 2-23 Infantry Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and 210th Field Artillery Brigade pose for a group photo with local leaders in Pocheon, South Korea, Aug. 7, 2025. The joint effort supported a summer community event for senior citizens, reinforcing U.S.-ROK friendship through food, music, and shared service.

The event, hosted by the People to People International Pocheon Chapter, aimed to provide hot meals and a sense of connection and dignity to nearly 150 local seniors. Lively music, colorful performances and physical wellness activities brought together different generations and cultures under one canvas canopy.

“Helping Korea is a shared mission, and we're privileged to serve,” said Staff Sgt. James Jordan, a squad leader with 2-23 IN. “It felt good to be there to help out, even if just serving food and helping to clean up. The 2-23IN Tomahawk motto is ‘We Serve.’”

The morning began with a cheerful medley of performances—a local ensemble played the flute, violin and saxophone while one performer sang in traditional dress. Attendees, many arriving with the assistance of walkers, canes or companions, were greeted with applause and helped to their seats by Soldiers in blue PTPI vests.

Pocheon Mayor Baek Young-hyun attended the event and personally thanked the Soldiers for their contributions to the community. He spoke to his community to encourage their continued strength and perseverance despite their recent loss due to heavy flooding.

While the recent floods in Pocheon served as a somber backdrop to the event, the tone remained hopeful. In a city still recovering from seasonal storms, this day stood out for its humanity and compassion.

Once seated, guests were served steaming bowls of dak-gomtang (Korean chicken soup) prepared and distributed by Soldiers and local volunteers. For many of the attendees, the meal and attention offered a moment of warmth, companionship and care.

The gathering continued with a series of light chair exercises and impromptu dancing from some senior members, with many clapping along, swaying in their seats, and even participating in laughter-filled sing-a-longs led by enthusiastic volunteers.

As the event concluded, seniors stood to bow in gratitude before their departures. Soldiers said the opportunity to serve the community was deeply meaningful.

“Our mission here goes beyond the training and ranges,” said Jordan said. “Sometimes the best way to show strength is through service, and that’s what today was about.”