Local church visits US Army air defenders in Korea

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Heather Denby | Chief Warrant Officer Jessica Willis, an air and missile defense tactician assigned to Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery visits with Joy Jean, a college student and volunteer at Gunsan Jungbu Church, during a community relations event Jan. 30 at Kunsan Air Base. More than 30 Soldiers volunteered to participate in the half-day event.  

KUNSAN AIR BASE, 41, SOUTH KOREA

01.30.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Heather Denby 

35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea -- Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery welcomed more than 50 Korean teachers and children from Gunsan Jungbu Church to Kunsan Air Base Jan. 30.

The children and teacher visit with Soldiers was part of U.S. Forces - Korea Good Neighbor Program, an initiative that encourages community relations-activities in order to strengthen the U.S./Republic of Korea Alliance and improve Soldiers quality of life by learning more about their host country.

"These types of events are what I remember most from my initial tour in Korea," said Chief Warrant Officer Jessica Willis, an air and missile defense tactician assigned to Alpha Battery. She is currently on her third tour in Korea.

"They made some very special memories for me and, I'm sure, the others that attended too," she said.

Willis began her military service as a private assigned to an air defense unit in Gwanju and commissioned after her second tour.

Willis' unit volunteered to host this event based on her recommendation to support the church's request.

"It doesn't matter what type of organization is sending the request," said Willis. "The bottom line is that the more we interact with our community in a positive way, the more our Soldiers will gain a better understanding of why we are really here."

The Soldiers and children challenged one another to games, toured the battery tactical site, and then shared stories over lunch at the base's golf course club house.

"It was really wonderful," said Joy Jean, a college student and church volunteer. "I didn't expect to have so many Soldiers participate. They had so much fun. Our children had no idea that there were so many Americans living close by and now they can't wait to visit again."

One of the Soldiers said that the event really impressed him as well.

"I've been volunteering a lot since I arrived to the unit and it never ceases to amaze me how much I learn about this country and its people," said Pfc. David Simonsen, a Patriot launching station enhanced operator/maintainer. "I hope the way that I treated them is how they will perceive us in the future."

"It's like I was truly an ambassador for the U.S. Army and it makes me proud to be a role model for these children," he said.

More than 30 Soldiers volunteered to participate in the half-day event.

The Gunsan Jungbu Church pastor said he is already planning for their next community event and that it will definitely include a request for Soldiers to come and participate.

• Date Taken: 01.30.2015
• Date Posted: 02.09.2015 01:31
• Story ID: 153987
• Location: KUNSAN AIR BASE, 41, KR
• Hometown: BRADENTON, FL, US