Posted on 12/05/2023 7:47:01 PM PST by Redcitizen
SEOUL, South Korea — Dressed in borrowed camouflage fatigues, they fumbled with their ammunition belts and K2 assault rifles. Some had white hair and a slow, shuffling gait; their average age was 63, the oldest 75.
It was the most unconventional batch of trainees that the 52nd Infantry Division's Seocho Reserve Forces Training Center had ever seen, and Lt. Col. Hwang Hyeon-seok received them with a strained smile, desperately hoping that none of them would get hurt.
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
Related material: Old Man's War by John Scalzi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Man%27s_War
I liked that novel.
Good on them; I salute them.
They may be old, but sometimes every hand is needed.
There’s an old saying: “needs must when the devil drives.”
The old ones know that better than anyone.
Its been 30 years since I got out, but I still have my LBE in my closet ready to go.
Yes these guys are commendable.
On my first tour to South Korea in 1980, I was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division SJA Office in Tongduchon. Our office maintenance guy was Mr. Paek, a retired Korean Army Sergeant Major who had served during the Korean War. He was tough as nails and old rawhide, and a great guy with an expansive sense of humor, with a wealth of stories about his time in service during the war. I learned a lot from him, especially cold weather operations and cold weather weapon maintenance. In my whole 21-year military career, that one-year tour in 1980 was the best assignment I had.
I bet the much younger officers commanding them are greatly underestimating the mens’ abilities to endure, too :-)
The October 7 attacks in Israel just provided yet another example of why that’s so important.
There are so many jobs old soldiers could fill in a country facing invasion, there are even jobs that sharp crippled up veterans can fill, and the men don’t change the military culture and the old male veterans wouldn’t walk around thinking pretending they are meeting the same physical standards as the young warriors.
That’s a great story. I appreciate you sharing it. There’s always something to learn from other people. Mr Paek was a national treasure.
Yep. Might take a little longer to get moving but I’m sure they are willing to serve South Korea and keep going.
Too bad so many of them didn’t have guns.
You are entirely correct. I could still drive an M978 fuel truck if need be. I haven’t forgotten. Those old soldiers would free up a younger man to fight.
Can you imagine the easy, cooperative, get-the-job-done mentality that 60 and 70 year old military veteran revolunteers would bring to the rear echelon work areas?
Yes I can get an idea of what you are saying. I’ve seen that type of camaraderie and can do attitude at church.
My Uncle served on WWII fleet submarines. A number of years ago they invited some sub vets to start up a restored boat. He and the other guys didn’t need any reminders, and even corrected the curators on how they really did it, not by the book.
63 isn’t all that old.
Ditto. I may have less tread on my feet and fewer hairs to cut but my final gear still resides in a bag in the basement, ready to go. It still fits. I'm not a cripple and of sound mind. I will do what I must, wherever and whatever that may be - and I'm even more aged than the oldest Korean reservist trainee mentioned. Honestly, I hope it doesn't come to that. Nobody does. My beloved wife and I (and children and grandchildren) wish us to live out our final years in peace. I've seen enough of war and have no desire to visit that again.
Sixty-three is ancient for soldiering.
It’s good that the elderly are getting out and being active.
I tried to re-up after 911 and they said I was to old.
If they ever get to point when they will take us old vets I’d go back without hesitation...
A few of us septagenerians might need a boost to get into the back seat of an F4-B, but once situated, we’d remember what to do!
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