John Nowell:  

were on station in Korea. Upon separation from the U.S. Army, I applied for a temporary GS-3 civilian job with the U.S. Civil Service in Seoul, Korea. One month later, I was selected for a permanent GS-3 position. Within six months I was promoted to GS-4 and a year later to GS-5. These positions were in the same command and were clerical in nature. In Oct. '68, I was selected for a position as a Civil Affairs Specialist, GS-7. Four years later, my position was upgraded to GS-9. I continued to work for the U.S. Government in Seoul until Jan. '79, when I resigned my position to work in the commercial sector in Seoul. I took a position as Sales Director for the Ambassador Hotel in Seoul. In Jan. '81, I became the Public Information Specialist for the Naija Hotel Armed Forces Recreation Center in Seoul as a NAF-7. After nine months, I resigned my position, returned to Anaheim, Calif.,and worked as the Assistant Night Manager at the Saddelback Inn in Santa Ana, Calif. In May '82, I was rehired in my old position as a GS-9 with the Eighth United States Army, Public Affairs Office, located in Seoul. Eighteen months later my position was upgraded to GS-11. I stayed in that position until April '93. I was selected as a GS-12, Public Affairs Officer with Headquarters, 34th Support Group and Area II in May '93 where I worked until October 30, 2004. I was selected to serve as the Public Affairs Officer for the Korea Region Office, Installation Management Agency (KORO-IMA) effective October 31, 2004 where I currently work. In September of 2002, I received my 35 year certificate for U.S. Civil Service work. In September this year I will have completed 39 years of US Government service. I plan to work until 2007 when I am eligible to retire with 40 years of U.S. Government service. Military I reported to the Los Angeles Reception Station on February 24, 1964. Personnel reporting that day were placed on orders for Basic Training to be conducted at Fort Polk, Louisiana as Fort Ord, California was closed to new recruits due to an outbreak of Spinal-Meningitis. I was selected as the senior escort for the 92 personnel flying from Los Angeles to Louisiana. As I had prior experience in the California Cadet Corps during my Freshman year at Central High School in El Centro, California, I was appointed the Platoon Guide for our platoon in Basic Training. I served as an acting Sergeant, E5 in charge of 64 other recruits during the 8-week training cycle. In May, I was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington for Advanced Individual Training (AIT) as a field artilleryman. My experience as an acting Sergeant in Basic Training enfluenced the platoon sergeant to appoint me as one of the four squad leaders. So, I was an acting Corporal during three months of AIT. In November 1964, I was placed on orders for transfer to Korea. I was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, headquartered at Camp Howze, Korea. On December 15, 1964, I set sail on the U.S.S. Breckenridge from Oakland Army Terminal, California. It was a 21-day voyage across the Pacific Ocean. We stopped overnight at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and half of the 400 troops got shore liberty. Our next stop was at Yokohama, Japan where the other 200 troops got liberty (including me). I briefly stepped on shore at Naha, Okinawa to help unload garbage from the ship during a brief port call. On January 5, 1965, we landed at Inchon, Korea for change of transportation. We hauled our duffle bags on board a train ride to Camp Casey located adjacent to Tongduchon, Korea, home to the headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division. Midway through our ship ride to Korea, several of the soldiers' orders were amended to reassign us to 7th Infantry Division (including mine). I was assigned to the 7th Inf. Div. 7th Administration Company. Eight months later, I transferred to Eighth Army Support Command, Personnel Services Company, located in Seoul, Korea, as assignments clerk for incoming personnel (E-6 and below). I was promoted to Specialist E-5 in October 1965, but separated from active duty on February 23, 1966 and remained in Seoul, Korea. My records were transferred to Camp Zama, Japan and I was assigned to the 5855th USAR Civil Affairs, Reinforcement Unit to complete my U.S. Army Reserve commitment while I continued to live in Korea. I continued my USAR commitment until April 1994 when I was placed in the Retired Reserve status. I was officially retired on February 18, 2002 as a Master Sergeant and credited with 37 years, 11 months and 23 days.