Talon Warriors reminisce about hometown

Photo By Chung Il Kim | First Lt. Amanda O’leary, a Brigade Medical Operations officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade is from Butte, Mont.  

PYEONGTAEK, 41, SOUTH KOREA

11.12.2015

Story by Chung Il Kim 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea - There is no place like home, especially for Soldiers who are deployed to foreign lands; what other place can possibly be better than home sweet home. During this past century, the Soldiers have sacrificed their lives in distant foreign countries to achieve world peace and stability. How much they missed their home in the midst of chaos, we cannot even dare to guess. This Veterans Day, a few Soldiers from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade stationed in South Korea took a few moments to reminisce about where they come from and where they call home.

First Lt. Amanda O’leary, a Brigade Medical Operations officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade is from Butte, Montana.

“Montana is beautiful,” said O’leary. “Montana is famous for Yellowstone Park, wildlife, the Bighorn mountains and Glacier Park.”

Stationed in Korea for over a year, O’leary said Pyeongtaek, where Camp Humphreys is located, is somewhat similar to Montana.

“The mountains and forests that surround the area of Pyeongtaek give me the sense of being home,” said O’leary. “The extreme cold weather here in Pyeongtaek during the winter is also similar to that of Montana.”

Although she is in Korea, she constantly keeps in touch with her family via Skype and Internet. She also takes advantage of USFK’s airline service at Osan Air Base, gets on a free plane to visit Montana at least once a year and visits her family.

“I have a big family back home,” said O’leary. “My mom has many brothers, and they all live in Montana.”

Master Sgt. Karl Swartz, a Medical Operations NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2CAB, is also from Montana, from a small town called Miles City.

“I’m from a rural, small town where people live on farming and ranching,” said Swartz. “There are only 8,000 people in my town.”

Swartz longs to go hunting, fishing and sightseeing in Montana and especially misses the wildlife and nature there. He tries to visit his parents in Montana once or twice a year.

"Once I retire, I want to go back to Montana.”

Sgt. 1st Class Gustavo Ayala, a Brigade Safety NCO, HHC, 2CAB, is from Puerto Rico. Ayala has been in Korea for 14 months with his family.

“I miss the beach and weather,” said Ayala. "The brutal cold winter in Korea is very different from a Caribbean island with tropical rainforest.”

What Ayala misses the most is the food however.

“I really miss the special rice, beans, potatoes and pork,” said Ayala. “I can make them here in Korea, but the taste isn’t the same.”

Ayala keeps strong bonds with the Soldiers with the same background to overcome the homesickness.

“I was stationed in Puerto Rico as a recruiter,” said Ayala. “I coordinate many cultural programs to help others assimilate into the United States Army.”

Capt. Cydnia Jackson, a senior human resource adviser for the 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, is from Raleigh, North Carolina.

“Raleigh has world-class museums, Broadway shows and live concerts, and professional and amateur sporting events,” said Jackson.

Although she did not have much chance to enjoy the same entertainment in Korea, Jackson did spend her time meaningfully. She won the Camp Humphreys Operation Rising Star, a singing competition, and she will fly over to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on Nov. 19 to compete for final rounds.

“I’m so glad that I can spend my Thanksgiving with my family at Raleigh,” said Jackson.

Soldiers are forced to leave behind what they love. They miss the atmosphere, culture, food, family and friends and take on a new environment to defend their country and freedom. This Veterans Day, think about those Soldiers who are not at home, who live in far off countries trying to make the world a better place.

• Date Taken: 11.12.2015
• Date Posted: 11.11.2015 20:14
• Story ID: 181716
• Location: PYEONGTAEK, 41, KR
• Hometown: BUTTE, MT, US
• Hometown: MILES CITY, MT, US
• Hometown: RALEIGH, NC, US