More Spooky October

[HAB911]

15. Danger

We were never shot at, but North Koreans were always sneaking across the border either for sabotage or defection. As well as the being responsible for the the switchboard, I frequently had to make courier runs to Panmunjom and was armed with a .45 and M16. Probably in more danger from driving on dirt roads where both sides past the shoulder were live mine fields. Sadly, 50 years later the worst danger turned out to be the Agent Orange the DMZ was sprayed with for two years, so many of us won the prostate cancer lottery.

The switchboard connected various units and there were many, armored units, artillery units, and lots of outposts along the fence. It was a tense lifestyle for 12 months, no civilian clothes allowed while inside the DMZ. Everyone knew we were just speedbumps if the North Koreans decided on a full scale invasion. We were sandwiched between them and the Imjin river, and the big bridge in the slide deck would be the first thing we would blow up in case of invasion. The only time we ever relaxed, was from late November to late January because it was so cold, diesel engines would not start, and neither would the North Korean vehicles.