Chapter 233
Chapter 233
Charlie C. Suits.
He was appointed as the commander of US Forces Korea in accordance with Ronald’s strategy for Asia, and he is African-American. He wasn’t very big, but his body was strong and his eyes were bewildering. At first glance, he looks like a heavenly soldier.
Well, if you were a four-star general in the US Army, you would have been on the military elite course.
But why does such a person come to the reserve army training ground?
Well, since the reserve forces are also a major force in wartime, it is not unusual to come to check the training status as the wartime operational commander.
“… … .”
No, that’s weird. It’s a strange situation for anyone to see!
The reservists said in a low voice.
“Isn’t this being reported on the airwaves?”
“Where is the airwaves? Foreign media will also report it.”
“By now, it seems that North Korea’s Chosun Central TV is also broadcasting.”
That’s probable enough. From the North’s point of view, the USFK commander must be very interested in every move.
Reservists were also very nervous at the sudden appearance of US troops. All those who had just slept or slept just woke up.
The battalion commander said in a trembling voice.
“Oh, well. U.S. Forces Korea Commander, U.S. Forces Korea, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Shuitz, visited the reserve forces to encourage them. Please welcome everyone with applause.”
His expression was ‘Please clap! please! Please!’
Fortunately, the reservists sincerely applauded.
clap clap!
Commander Schüitz stepped forward and said: Of course, it was in English, and an American officer who seemed to be Korean-American translated it right next to him.
“Nice to meet you, Korean Reservists. I am Charlie Schüitz, commander of USFK. It is very nice to meet you in this event. I am well aware that the role of the reserve forces in the defense of Korea is very important. Thank you to the reserve forces who faithfully carry out the hard training for the country. And lastly… … .”
Commander Schüitz looked around the reserve forces seated in the auditorium and smiled.
“I will make sure that everyone can leave early today.”
This is the winner of early retirement two days in a row.
Upon hearing the interpreter’s words, the reservists cheered by raising their arms again.
“Wow!”
I was quite surprised.
The USFK commander must know exactly what the Korean reserve forces want!
Commander Schüitz shook hands with the soldiers and reserve forces one by one and encouraged them.
The moment he shook everyone’s hand, he shouted loudly.
“Private Kim Hee-chan! I’ll do my best!”
“Major Lee Han-jun! It is an infinite honor to see you, Commander!”
Of course, this is limited to active duty.
The reservists shook hands comfortably (but politely).
When it was my turn, Commander Schüitz took my hand and said,
“I’ve always wanted to meet you, Mr. Kang.”
I laughed too.
“It’s nice to meet you too.”
I have some ties to the US military.
At the time of Big One, the National Guard and the Federal Army were deployed to rescue the victims. I followed Ronald and met the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Chief of Staff of the Army.
They all thanked me deeply.
“America will never forget what Mr. Kang did. Please visit the unit at any time.”
I nodded.
“Okay. I will definitely go when I have the chance.”
I am very close with the US military.
But why do conservative groups and some politicians call me a pro-North Korean redneck?
* * *
The check-out ceremony ended two hours earlier than planned.
After returning the firearms and gear, I was finally free. It feels like a heavy load has been lifted.
“Is this year’s reserve army training over?”
“Why are you doing this, like an amateur? You’ve got some craft training left.”
“… … .”
I really need to change my nationality.
Should we move our headquarters to the US?
There were a lot of reporters in front of the guard post, probably because the commander of the USFK had visited. Fortunately, we got into the car the bodyguard drove before we were caught by the reporters.
On the way, I called the head of the PR team.
[Aren’t you training right now?]“I just finished.”
[i See. You’ve worked really hard for the hard training.]Sitting still isn’t hard work in itself.
I said taking off my military uniform in the car.
“Please find someone.”
* * *
When we got home, we changed into comfortable clothes and lay down on the sofa to rest. I thought I’d stop by the company for a while since it ended early, but I don’t want to do anything when I get home.
Anyway, without me, the company will run well.
The visit of the USFK commander to the reserve force training ground was still a hot topic. As soon as I turned on the news, Commander Charlie Schüitz appeared.
He didn’t bring a reporter, so there were no pictures of him shaking hands with me. Instead, interviews with the reserve soldiers who were there were played.
When evening came, Ellie came to her house to play. She is wearing a suit as she has just come home from work.
“Hi! I’m here.”
“Come on.”
“I bought sushi for dinner.”
Instead of going to the table, we decided to eat at the living room table. While Ellie was taking out the sushi, I took a bottle of white wine from the wine fridge.
“I will enjoy this food.”
We lightly bumped the wine glasses.
“Both of them worked hard to train.”
“It’s hard. I just sat there and came.”
“I was a little worried though. I heard that there are so many incidents in the Korean military.”
Taehyung nodded his head.
“Well. There was one big accident in our Jinhoodo army.”
At that, Ellie widened her eyes.
“Are you buying?”
“Um, that’s… … .”
You don’t have to hide now, do you?
I told you about a mortar explosion that happened during training some time ago. Except, of course, that I saw Yeji for the first time back then.
Ellie was startled and covered her mouth with both her hands.
“Hey, did that really happen?”
“It’s something no one knows except Taek-gyu.”
She didn’t even tell her mother because she was worried. You probably still don’t know.
“Are you not hurt?”
“of course. As you can see, I’m fine.”
Fortunately, thanks to Yeji and bowing before the accident, nothing happened. I suffered a bit because I couldn’t hear well for a while.
If she had been late for even a second, she would have been killed or seriously injured on the spot.
“But why did the mortar explode?”
I smiled bitterly.
“It was flawed in the first place.”
Taek-gyu found the article on his cell phone and showed it to him.
The KM188 was a new mortar developed by Hwa An Jung Chemical. It was delivered to the Korean military first, and overseas export contracts were in progress in Turkey and Indonesia.
If it had simply exploded, I don’t know if it was covered somehow. However, the explosion killed one person and seriously injured another.
When the explosion became known to the media, the investigation team collected all the KM188s and conducted a full investigation. The result was shocking. The new mortar had serious flaws from the start. Naturally, all military deliveries and overseas exports were canceled.
But it doesn’t end here.
In the subsequent investigation, it was revealed that the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, even recognizing the defect, fabricated the inspection result and passed it.
Ellie asked with a puzzled expression.
“Then you approved the delivery knowing that it was defective?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I got my money back.”
The history of corruption in the Korean military is very deep.
The most famous incident is the National Guard Disaster.
When the 625 War broke out due to the North Korean invasion of South Korea, the Syngman Rhee regime conscripted civilians and organized the National Guard Army of 500,000 men to deal with the oncoming enemy forces. It’s kind of like a reservist.
However, the commanders from above ate up all the budget they had to spend on dressing and feeding these troops. The soldiers, who were not properly supplied, suffered from hunger, cold, and disease, and in the end, 20 percent of the troops died of starvation, freezing, and dying during the march without ever fighting.
About 90,000 allies were killed not by enemy bullets, but by the corruption of the commander!
This is the worst case in the world that has no precedent.
Decades have passed since then, but military misconduct and military corruption are still not being eradicated. The deaths of soldiers from starvation or freezing to death have disappeared, but deaths in accidents are not uncommon.
If I were to list all the examples, a few books would suffice.
“How can the soldiers defending the country do that? It’s no different than treason or transference.”
Taek-gyu ate the sushi and said a word.
“Some say it’s a livelihood crime.”
Ellie asked, seemingly absurd.
“No, are you kidding me?”
I sighed and said.
“That’s what the Minister of Defense actually said.”
Taehyung nodded his head.
“He was the Minister of Defense appointed by your Excellency.”
When it was revealed that the mortar explosion was not a simple accident, but a human resource caused by corruption of the Bangsa Agency, even the political circles shook.
At the plenary session of the National Defense Commission, the lawmakers, regardless of whether they belonged or not, strongly criticized the corruption in the military. However, Minister of National Defense Ha Min-gyu turned the people’s clothes upside down by saying, “Unlike the past, there are many livelihood crimes in the military these days.”
How absurd, one member of parliament jumped up and shouted.
‘Stealing bread because Jean Valjean is hungry is a crime for a living. What kind of crime is it to receive billions of dollars from military personnel and cover up flaws?’
With common sense, would a sergeant or a second lieutenant accept entertainment or bribes? Of course, the generals with several stars must have received it and ate it.
In any case, the investigation expanded to the general military abduction corruption, and the former naval chief of staff was also arrested.(Read more @ wuxiax.com)
At this point, it is no exaggeration to say that the entire army is a hotbed of corruption and corruption.
I drank the wine from the glass at once. Even though I haven’t had a few drinks, I feel like I’m drinking quickly today.
“Some people lost their lives and some lost their legs because of that ‘livelihood crime’.”
Even now, Sgt. Kim Jae-hak’s voice, crying and shouting while holding his legs, is vivid.
“Is the compensation done properly?”
“Is it possible?”
While I was in the military hospital, I was able to see other soldiers lying on the bed.
The military never sends them to the hospital because they are ill. Therefore, it can be said that they were seriously injured enough to be hospitalized in the military. Most of them were worried about future treatment and compensation.
It is a fact that I learned there, and it is said that in Korea, military personnel are prohibited from filing a claim for compensation against the state.
After hearing my story, Ellie asked as if she didn’t understand.
“really? There would be very few countries that ban military compensation lawsuits.”
“They said that the country did this to avoid responsibility when there were a lot of casualties from dispatching troops to Vietnam.”
While I was receiving treatment, the company commander, the battalion commander, and the division commander came in turn. They both emphasized that they should not engage in actions such as media interviews or postings on the Internet, as bad misunderstandings may arise about the military.
If you let it all out here and there, all the troops will suffer together.
She didn’t even want to say where she was going as she had told her not to even contact her home for fear that her mother would be worried anyway.
Ellie asked.
“Isn’t there a system for people of national merit or veterans in Korea?”
“There is, but… … .”
It is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than to be the target.
Taegyu said.
“Doesn’t the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs employees become national meritocracy even if they fall while hiking or smashed their toes on the threshold?”
This is a joke, but it’s real. There are even employees who have become national meritorious because they injure others in a car accident.
Ellie’s drinking spirit slowly rose, and her face turned a little red.
“Why doesn’t Korea take responsibility for soldiers who were injured while serving their country?”
“I do not know.”
They are the children of the state when they are brought in, or of others when they are injured or killed. That’s why it’s said that if you die in the military, you’re dead.
“Then how is the senior who was close to Jin-hoo doing now?”
I said, pouring over the rest of the wine.
“I’m curious about that too.”
* * *
a few days later.
When I went to work and had a meeting with Taek-gyu about what to have for lunch, Jung Ki-hong, the PR team leader, ran into the CEO’s office.
“What happen?”
Senior Ki Hong said to me.
“I found the person named Jae-Hak Kim, whom the CEO mentioned.”
