28 September 2013

Good Morning Col Nam,

First, my sincere appreciation for allowing me to visit with your Command the 38^th Tank Battalion on Thursday, 26 Sep 2013.  You and your staff were the prefect host and extended a very Korean welcome to a stranger arriving at your gate.

            Although it had been 50 years since my first arrival at Camp Beavers; as it was know during my tour of duty in 1963-64, the camp was still recognizable to me and I felt as if I was stepping back in time to my youth.  Standing in front of the old headquarters building location brought back fond memories of my time at Camp Beavers.  The valley remains primarily the same as it was in 63-64 with the exception now the hills are lush with trees.  I cannot recall one tree standing on Camp Beavers or in the surrounding area and now mature trees are everywhere.

Thank you for taking time from your schedule to walk the base with me and allowing me to sharing photographs and stories from my tour of duty.  I set up an Internet folder with the photos as requested so you will be able to download them (a separate email with the URL for the folder will be dispatched).

            I shared my visit with the 73rd Armor Association (https://fortbeavers.tripod.com/id43.html) and advise the group that our old Camp Beavers is still active with a Tank Unit, standing tall awaiting the call to arms.  Our legacy lives on with the 38^th standing watch as we did those long years ago.

            Please extend my sincere appreciation to Major Lee and your staff for making my visit such a wonderful success. 

                                                            Sincerely Yours,

Cleveland Lewis Witt,

Master Sergeant, US Army (Retired)

1/73^rd Armor, 7^th Inf Div

Camp Beavers, Korea

Sep 1963 – Sep 1964

26 September 2013

Dear Curt,

Today I had the privilege of a visit with ROK Army 38^th Tank Battalion residing at Ole Camp Beavers.  This month, 50 years ago, I arrived Camp Beavers and the 73^rd, what a memorable trip down memory lane for this old soldier this visit was.  LTC Nam, Kyoung Jung, BN Commander and his staff extended a very courtesy welcome to a returning soldier to his old base, which was facilitated by the 2^nd ID Museum Staff.  We lunched in his mess and then walked the base area and to my surprise still standing are a number of buildings from my tour of 63-64.  The “O” Club is standing but not in use and one of the BOQ buildings is now the base Chapel.  HQ is long gone with just the base of the flagpoles remaining. 

The 38^th Tank Battalion, 36^th Mech Division fights with the K1 our Abrams M1.  The valley we were tucked into has withstood the pace of time and is still recognizable.  The hills though are wooded and were very beautiful this time of year.  A public road separates the tank unit from its support units much as in our time.  Once you reach the Hantan River though you see the tremendous build-up of the area.  LTC Nam said it was still a very cold place in winter especially with the wind from the North.

The 1st Cav monument is still standing, though not in its original location.  Road construction/upgrades required it be relocated slightly to make way for progress.  It still sits near the 38^th Parallel. 

Please let the 73^rd members know Beavers is still there as a fighting Armor unit, standing tall waiting for the call to arms

I sent you a link to my Camp Beavers Photos on Drop Box.

C. Lewis Witt

MSG, USA Retired

HHC, 1/73^rd Armor, 7^th Inf Div

Camp Beavers Sep 1963 – Sep 1964