U.N. Command Honor Guard Company
has threefold mission in Pacific
By B.R. Sargent, Seoul
bureau
Photos by Andy Dunaway / Stars and
Stripes
United Nations Command Honor Guard Company soldiers rehearse on the Knight Field parade
grounds at Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, in preparation for an upcoming ceremony. |
YONGSAN GARRISON — From the parade field to the battle- field,
the U.N. Command Honor Guard Company stands at the ready.
The company has three missions which take them to areas throughout
the peninsula, and into North Korea and Japan as well.
“We provide security for the (United States Forces Korea)
commander in chief 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week,” said Army Capt. Michael Judge,
company commander. The UNC honor guard is a quick reaction force for the commander. If the
need arises, the guard can move him to a secure location within five minutes, Judge
explained.
Guard members wait their turn on the North Carolina Range, south of Camp
Greaves. |
As a ceremonial unit, the all-male infantry company conducts
ceremonies throughout South Korea. It conducted nine missions helping to repatriate over
89 sets of remains from North Korea since July 2000. The honor guard travels with the
remains to Yokota Air Base, Japan. Following a ceremony, the remains are transferred to
the Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii.
“Repatriating remains is a very important mission,” Judge
said. “It’s always emotional. Each individual we bring out to free soil is a
hero.”
First Lt. David Bornn, executive officer for the United Nations Command Honor Guard
Company, calls commands during a rehearsal for an upcoming ceremony at Yongsan Garrison,
Seoul. |
The company also is responsible for conducting tactical training.
“The training allows us to successfully execute our security mission,” Judge
said. The commander explained that of the 89 United States soldiers and four officers who
make up the U.S. portion of the team, there are 18 career specialties, from infantry
soldier to supply specialist. Republic of Korea, Thailand, Philippines and New Zealand
soldiers also are members of the company.
With so much diversity, Judge said the group spends long, hard hours
training to ensure everyone is aware of his role. “We must be prepared to secure the
CINC and all of the command and control facilities (on post),” he said.
“This is a unit that works a lot,” said Spc. Eric Cousins,
22. Cousins said joining the honor guard is a good move for anyone, “as long as they
don’t mind hard work.”
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