A. CONCEPTION:

1. On 5 May 1952, in anticipation of the end of the Korean conflict, the United Nations Command established the United Nations Command, Military Armistice Commission Support Group (Provisional) with an authorized strength of five officers and ten enlisted men. The unit’s mission was to provide the necessary facilities and logistical support to the Military Armistice Commission, and others engaged in the execution of the Armistice Agreement.

2. The United Nations Command Advance Camp was established in the vicinity of Munsan (at Camp Garry Owen’s current location). The support Group provided all necessary logistical support for the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, Swiss and Swedish delegations to the Neutral Nations Repatriations Commission, Custodial Forces India, non repatriated Prisoners of War of the Chinese People’s Volunteer and the North Korean People’s Army, U.S., State Department Delegates of the Preliminary Conferences for Political conferences, and members of the NNSC for transportation and security.

3. During peak operation (Nov 1953 to Jan 1954), the Group had a strength of approximately 1,900 persons and supported 32,000 people. The scope of the mission required the Support Group to operate and maintain a fleet of 568 vehicles, 16 aircraft, 3 water points (producing approximately 344,000 gallons of potable water daily) and a telephone exchange. The Group supply and utilities section handled about 153 tons of supplies and produced approximately 11,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity daily.

4. The unit (United States Army Support Group) was redesignated as the United Nations Command Support Group - Joint Security Area (UNCSG-JSA), effective 11 Jun 1979.

5. During 1980, a number of changes were within the group; the most significant was the formation of two companies - Joint Security Force and Headquarters and Services - to replace the composite JSF/H&S Company.

6. On 23 Dec 1985, the United Nations Command Support Group-Joint Security Area was redesigned as the United Nations Command Security Force - Joint Security Area. A major effort was made during the year to improve the combined operations of the UNCSF-JSA. The objective was to integrate the leadership as much as possible so the UNCSF-JSA would function as a truly combined ROK/US unit.

7. In Nov 1987, a ROK Army Major was assigned as the Deputy Commander. The Joint Security Force (JSF) Company evolved into an intergrated ROK/US organization during the latter half of the year.

8. In Jul 1988, the JSF platoons were reorganized to mix ROK and US personnel at the fire team level. The old system had segregated squad fire teams into either all ROK or all US Soldiers. The JSF platoon command structure was changed to allocate two platoons for US platoon leaders with ROK platoons sergeants, and two platoons for ROK platoon leader with US platoon sergeants. The old system had four US platoon leader and four ROK liaison officers. The JSF Company Commander remained a US officer.

9. On 25 Apr 1992, the Joint Security Force Company of the UNCSF-JSA effectively transitioned to an all Korean Force, and a ROK Captain (CPT Yin sung Hwan) became the first ROK officer to command the Joint Security Force company. A small number of US personnel still serve in the JSF Company Headquarters section.

On 15 Oct 1994, the UNCSF-JSA was redesignated the United Nation Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area (UNCSB-JSA). On 17 Jul 1995, the UNCSB-JSA activated its Fourth Platoon, bringing that company to full strength.

B. OPERATIONS: The unit has been involved in the following operations:

1. The Movement of the Custodial Forces India: The movement of 6,143 personnel on 2 Sep 1953, from Incheon Port of the Demilitarized Zone by helicopter.

2. Operation “Little Switch” and “Big Switch”: Conducted from 20 Apr to 6 Sep 1953; UNC received 13,444 POWs and repatriated 82,493 KPA/CPV POWs.

3. Operation Comeback: The release by Custodial Forces India of the 23,000 anticommunist Chinese and NKs who refused to be repatriated on 21 Jan 1954.

4. Operation Rainbow: The repatriation from North Korea of the displaced persons and refugees in Mar 1954.

5. Operations Breeches Buoy: The return of the crew of the USS Pueblo on 23 Dec 1968.

6. Operation Temple Bell: The return of the OH-23 helicopter crew in Dec 1969.

7. Operation Runaway 1: The repatriation of 39 South Korea National civilian passengers of the hijacked Korean airlines aircraft on 14 Feb 1970.

8. Operation Paul Bunyon: The trimming of a tree in the JSA on 21 Aug 1976 caused by the death of two UNC officers.

9. Operation Raw Hide I, II and III: The Hyundai Group and Korean Red Cross delivered a total of fifteen hundred cattle as humanitarian aid to DPRK, 27 Oct 1998 and 8 Aug 2000.

10. South/North Summit Preparatory Talks: 13 Battalion operations from 22 Apr-15 Jun in preparation for the historic Korean Summit Talks on 15 Jun 2000 between South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and Chairman of National Defense Commission Kim Jong Il.

11. Spy Repatriations: On 2 Sep 2000 the Government of the Republic of Korea repatriated 63 unconverted spies back to DPRK through Panmunjom.

12. Flood Repatriations: 6 Battalion operations for the repatriation of 22 North Korean soldiers and civilians from the floods of the summer of 2000.

D. HISTORY OF TAE SONG-DONG:

(1) Legal Basis:

(a) Under the provisions of the Armistice Agreement (clause 11-9, UNC/USGCPD and letter of instruction 5-2, UNC/USFK) which was signed in Pan Mun Jom on 27 Jul 1953, a stipulation authorized each side to maintain a village in the DMZ. In accordance with this provision, the United Nations Command side designed Tae Song Dong as its authorized village in the Southern portion of the DMZ, while the KPA side established a village called Pyonghwa-Chon (commonly referred to as Gijong-Dong) in the northern portion of the DMZ. During the Korean War, the scattered villages in the vicinity of Tae Song Dong were destroyed and one Tae Song Dong remained. At that time, the village consisted of 30 households and 160 residents.

(b) Today, the village of Tae Song Dong is commonly referred to as “Freedom Village.” The UNCSB-JSA Commander is responsible for all civil affairs within this unique village, to include security and the supervision of elections every 2 years. The commander carries out his responsibilities through a security platoon that guards the village 24 hours a day. During the day, they provide security for the farmers as they work in their fields, and at night they guard the village against North Korean attempts to kidnap or harass the villagers. In the past, UNCSB-JSA soldiers have been called upon to assist the villagers in other ways, such as harvesting rice damaged by a typhoon in Sep 1994.

(c) To be a resident of this unique village, one has to be an original resident of the Pan Mun Valley prior to the Korean War or be direct descendant thereof. These villagers have historically been the most prosperous farmers in the Republic of Korea because they farm an average of 17.5 acres of farmland per family, whereas the farmers in the south farm anywhere from one to four acres. Tae Song Dong villagers enjoy several advantages over their countrymen. They pay no federal taxes, the men are exempt from military draft, the government subsidizes the building of their homes, and they have many of the facilities found in any village throughout the Republic, to include Primary School for the children.

(d) The Tae Song Dong residents do, however, live under some severe restrictions as well. Due to the threat from the North, they must return to the village by dark each night and be in their homes with windows and doors secured by 2300 hours.

(e) In Jun of 1981, a new recreation center building was completed. Also completed was a major portion of the Tae Song Dong development program, which included a new civil affairs building, a new school, and a new house for each of the village’s 38 families. Most of the village’s older structures were torn down before the 18 Dec dedication ceremony.

1. (2) Change of Control of Tae Song Dong:
2. (a) 25 Jun 1950-Oct 1963: Controlled by Civil Affairs Team under G-5, 1st US Cavalry Division.
3. (b) Oct 1963-Apr 1976: Controlled by US Army Support Group.
4. (c) Apr 1976-Dec 1985: Controlled by United Nations Command Support Group.
5. (d) Dec 1985-Present: Controlled by United Nations Command SecurityBattalion-Joint Security Area (redesignated).

1. (3) KPA provocation in Tae Song Dong and farming areas:
2. (a) At about 2400 hours, early in Dec 1958, KPA soldiers kidnapped Mr. Lee, Dae Sung, a resident of Tae Song Dong who was sleeping on a nearby hill. Later he was found stabbed to death.
3. (b) Jul 1958, Mr. Lee, Young Ki, who was an interpreter between the residents of Tae Song Dong and US soldiers, defected to North Korea. Afterwards, Mr. Kim Yong Rae, a resident of Tae Song Dong, made contact with Mr. Lee on a frequent basis. Mr. Kim was expelled from the village in violation of the ROK Anti-Communism Law.
4. (c) KPA soldiers attempted to kidnap Mr. Kim, Keun Su, Mayor of Tae Song Dong, to North Korea in 1981 and 1982, but they failed to do so. Mr. Kim left the village of Tae Song Dong shortly after the second attempt to protect himself from danger and lived in Seoul for 5 years. After living in Seoul for 5 years, he returned to the village.
5. (d) On 17 Oct 1997, eight Korean People’s Army (KPA) soldiers abducted two Tae Song Dong farmers working in the vicinity of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The farmers were accused of crossing the MDL and detained in North Korea during an investigation into the incident. After completion of the Joint United Nations Command (UNC) and KPA investigation the farmers were repatriated on 21 Oct 1997.
6. (e) On 1 Sep 2000, 3 KPA armed with AK-47s attempted to contact TSD and their escorts for 2 days. The KPA crossed the MDL by more than 20 meters and repeatedly aimed their weapons at JSA soldiers and threatened to shoot JSA reporting all incidents to higher.
7. (f) On 26 May 2002, 3 KPA armed with AK-47 rifles crossed the MDL in the vicinity of TSD. KPA soldiers attempted to make verbal contact with TSD PLT guards, a sking for water and other conversation. The TSD platoon soldiers took proper action by evacuating farmers from the area. The KPA soldiers moved 50 meters forward and moved one of the TSD farmer’s stools to a location near the MDL.

D. INSTALLATION: The JSA currently operates six installations.

1. (1) Camp Bonifas: Houses all personnel of the Battalion. It is located about 400 meters south of the southern boundary of the Demilitarized Zone. On 18 Aug 1986, a memorial ceremony was held to change the name of Camp Kitty Hawk to Camp Bonifas in honor of MAJ Arthur Bonifas. On 12 May 1993, A Co, 1/506 Infantry, was withdrawn from Camp Liberty Bell and moved south of the Imjin River and the UNCSF-JSA took control of the barracks and BOQ facilities on Camp Liberty Bell and renamed the facility Camp Bonifas (East).
2. (2) Swiss and Swedish Camp: Houses the Swiss and Swedish Delegations of the NNSC and is located adjacent to the JSA.
3. (3) Joint Security Area, Pan Mun Jom: An area approximately 800 meters in diameter that straddles the Military Demarcation Line. Established under provisions of the Armistice. The Barrett Readiness Facility (BRF) is located inside the JSA and houses the Battalions north mission platoon. In 1986, the BRF was named for LT Mark Barrett, killed during the 1976 Axe Murder incident.
4. (4) Tae Song Dong Platoon Headquarters: Provides a headquarters area and barracks for the Civil Affairs Platoon that lives inside the village of Tae Song Dong.
5. (5) Observation Post Ouellette: A guard post 1 kilometer east of the JSA. This facility was formerly controlled by elements of the 2nd Infantry Division until the DMZ transition of operational control was conducted on 1 Oct 1991.
6. (6) Quick Reaction Facility: A site inside the DMZ within close proximity to the JSA that houses the Battalion’s alert platoon.

E. UNIT AWARDS:

1. (1) On 20 Jul 1954, The Meritorious Unit Citation was awarded to UNCSF-JSA for it’s outstanding service in support of the following operations:
2. (a) Operation Big Switch and Little Switch
3. (b) The Movement of the Custodial Forces India
4. (c ) Operation Comeback
5. (d) Operation Rainbow

1. (2) The UNCSB-JSA has also received the following Army Superior Unit Awards:
2. (a) 18 Sep 1984 to 26 Nov 1984-During the Korean Red Cross Relief Operation.
3. (b) 15 May 1985 to 15 May 1986-Security of five sensitive Military Armistice Commission meetings.
4. (c) 1 Sep 1988 to 1 Sep 1989-Safeguarding the Chinese defector and six sensitive Military Armistice Commission meetings.
5. (d) 1 Oct 1990 to 21 Dec 1992-Threatened dissident and remains crossings.
6. (e) 1 Aug 1992 to 1 Aug 1993-South Korean Prime Minister crossings and 16 Korean remains crossings.
7. (f) 1 Aug 1993 to 1 Aug 1994-Repatriation of 131 UNC remains and 2 KPA soldiers; 3 diplomatic crossings.
8. (g) 1 Sep 1994 to 1 Sep 1995-Repatriation of 14 UN remains and 5 KPA soldiers, 1 illegal crossing by Mrs. Park.
9. (h) 1 Jan 2000 to 31 Dec 2000-Repatriation of 3 KPA soldiers, 63 North Korean spies, 10 North Korean flood victims. Provided security and support needed for historical North-South Summit Prepatory Talks.

(3) On 1 Oct 1991, the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to the NCSF-JSA for outstanding achievement and significant contribution to maintaining a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula during the period 1 Oct 1990 through 30 Sep 1991.

(4) During the 1990’s the UNCSB-JSA established a reputation throughout the United States Army and Korea as a unit of excellence. This reputation was due to the dedication and hard work of it’s outstanding soldiers, who won the following awards:

(a) Supply Excellence:

(b) Maintenance Excellence:

(c ) Phillip A. Connelly:

(d) Chief of Staff Army Communities of Excellence: