On the Border of North Korea: How the USO is Supporting U.S. Service Members Deployed at Camp Casey, South Korea

About 40 miles north of Seoul, Korea, set in the valley of the Taebeck Mountains, sits Camp Casey, a United States Army Garrison. Spanning 3,500 acres, the installation is home to over 6,000 service members who find themselves thousands of miles from home in a foreign land. For some, it is a tour of firsts – first deployment, first time away from their family and even their first time out of the United States.

“They are not allowed to have family members here [in Korea],” explained Hye Suk Harper, USO Camp Casey Center Operations Manager. “Most of them come here for the nine months-training program, some for the first time leaving home and the United States.”

These men and women are spending months performing missions and readiness trainings to support a harmonious relationship and, if needed, to defend the Republic of Korea (ROK) against aggressors – mainly, North Korea. Thus, the camp’s proximity of about 13 miles to the Demilitarized Military Zone (DMZ), a buffer border between the two countries. Given that service members must come to this location unaccompanied, as well as Camp Casey’s remote location and high-pressure rotational mission, this is considered a deployment, not just a duty station, as is the case in other South Korea locations.

Needless to say, it can be an isolating time away from the comforts of home. That’s where Team USO Camp Casey comes in.

With 25% of the people deployed here permanently and the rest rotating in and out for long trainings and exercises, the environment can be quite dynamic - an important aspect for the staff to understand, according to USO Camp Casey Center Manager Jieun Song, as they focus on “going wherever they go to provide supplies and facilities for [the troops].”

“A lot of them sleep in tents or on the ground for the exercises, with no store that they can go to,” said Hye Suk. “We take snacks and personal care stuff. They like fresh fruits because they have been eating all that dry Army stuff.”

When they are not delivering supplies to those in the field, the USO team welcomes other service members at their physical location, the USO Center aboard Camp Casey. The Center went through a renovation and was reopened in August of 2022, now offering free snacks, Wi-Fi, a cozy area to relax and watch TV, as well as a place to game with fellow service members.

“The Camp Casey USO team has provided me with a place that feels like home away from home. The friendly staff and peaceful facility provide an environment of relaxation, fun, snacks and a quiet place to focus,” expressed U.S. Army 1st Lt.Takeya McHaney.

In addition to the feelings of isolation and loneliness, the men and women find themselves in a vastly different culture than what their own. To help ease the struggle, the USO Camp Casey team intwines aspects of South Korean culture into their supportive efforts.

“We try focusing on hosting some local holiday events, so that they can learn Korean,” stated Jieun. “We provide some holiday luncheon events where they learn about the food, the origin of the food and the history of the local holidays.”

Due to the nature of the Camp, it is not unusual for service members to do multiple rotations in the area. For these men and women, the familiar faces of Team USO Camp Casey provide even further comfort.

“Some come back every two years, some come back four or five years. Later on, they come back and say, ’You’re still here’ and give me the biggest hug. That’s the best part,” stated Hye.

It is that warm hug that makes a difference.

“Camp Casey USO Team is a second family to me. They provide me with a place where I can talk out my problems and get advice. They keep me productively busy on my free time, always willing to provide me support whenever I need it,” U.S. Army Spc. Erika M. Johnston. “They have celebrated the good events in my life and never let me feel unappreciated.”

Whether it is the Wi-Fi keeping them connected to family back home, the USO van arriving in the field to bring supplies or a special barbeque full of familiar eats, the team at USO Camp Casey continues to lift spirits for those we serve.

“Seeing their smile and the little things like their appreciation, saying thank you and then they come back next time … Those are the things that make it really worth it,” said Hye Suk.