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CHAPTER 6

The 12/12 Incident

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ntertainment customs of the South Korean military and West-

ern countries were somewhat different. Most Western countries

include wives in their social events, while most Korean parties

are for men only. We decided that my promotion party would

follow the Korean military custom since most of the guests were Korean.

We gathered at my quarters, which were located at Yongsan South Post in

the U.S. Embassy housing area. Most of the residences were duplexes, but

mine was a single-family house. Like the others, however, it was of cinder-

block construction. Though dated, it was nicely furnished due to the require-

ment to entertain frequently.

The party was very well attended, including several ROK officers at the

two- and three-star level. This was quite an honor for me since I was only a

brand-new lieutenant colonel. Also attending were many of the military

attachés, a few representatives of U.S. Forces Korea, and some members of

the embassy staff, including Bob Brewster and Col. Don Blottie. The party

began at about : P.M. and was great fun, with a lot of the camaraderie

that is typical of military gatherings. I spent much of the time making cer-

tain that my guests were comfortable but also talking to Lieutenant Gen-

eral Chong, who was commandant of the ROK Marine Corps, and Maj. Gen.

Choi Sung Taek, who was the senior ROK Army-intelligence officer present.

A little later General Choi was called away rather abruptly. I walked him to

his car, bid farewell, and returned to my guests. It was evident from his

manner and the fact that he was talking on his radio net that something

unusual was happening, but at that time I had no indication that it was a

really serious incident.^1

I returned to my guests for a few more minutes, but they gradually be-

gan to depart. Among the last to leave were General Chong and Bob

Brewster. About two minutes after the last guest left, the telephone rang.

This call was from a Korean officer who was very excited. He said that there

were reports of ROK Army units moving and that there had been some sort

of incident at the official residence of the army chief of staff, Gen. Chung