Chapter Two & Three
Near the DMZ:
Under the cover of darkness, a five-man North Korean Special Operations deep strike team, led by Senior Lieutenant Lei Chung, made its way to their rally point. They were part of an advance element of the NKPA, North Korean People’s Army. Their specific missions included murder, assassination, execution, seizure, destruction of communications, and high-value targets. This team was one of the best of the best, the ultimate warriors.
When Chung and his team reached the DMZ, their guide met them. He would take them through one of the infiltration tunnels to the other side, their objective: enter South Korea unnoticed. However, an unexpected contact almost put that plan in jeopardy. As they came to the end of the underground tunnel, they encountered a ten-man South Korean patrol. Both teams reacted, but Chung and his team, were quicker. A sudden but short exchange of gunfire erupted resulting in the death of all ten men of the South Korean patrol. Now Chung and his men had to move quickly. They thanked their escort and slipped silently into South Korea.
With their first objective met, Chung led his team west toward their next rendezvous, a small submarine. Its mission, get them close to their first target area, the American air base located south of the Kum River – Kunsan Air Base.

Chapter Three
December 27, 1984:
Even though it was the Christmas season it was a dark day for Captain Shawn Beckman, Security Police, especially now that he as arrived in the Republic of South Korean and processed through customs. He heard the same things about a war with North Korea, but he didn’t take it seriously, as a matter of fact, he rejected it altogether. He’s too afraid to do anything, he thought. After clearing customs, he boarded the bus headed for Kunsan, his new assignment. He thought about it during his flight, and he was still thinking about it on the bus and the more he thought about it the more resentful he became. Korea, he thought, of all places it has to be Korea. That meeting with the Major was a sure surprise, and what he said about if he didn’t take the assignment, it could be the end of his career, so, essentially, he really didn’t have a choice. Once again, he thought about that day.

Robins Air Force Base, Georgia:
October 1, 1994, was a slightly chilly Monday morning in Warner Robins, Georgia. People were going to work. School buses were taking kids to school. It was just another normal day. On Robins Air Force Base, Major Lawson of the 78th Security Police Squadron was sitting at his desk, drinking a cup of coffee. He came in early to go over the new gate plans when a sergeant from the personnel office came in and delivered a package addressed to Shawn Beckman, Captain, 78th Security Police Squadron.

“Thank you, Sergeant.”
“Yes, Sir, have a great day.”
He had made sure that it was delivered to him and not Beckman, because he wanted to be the one who presented him with it. He kept an eye on the main door to the building, and when he saw Captain Beckman walk in, he smiled. A few minutes later, his phone rang, and he picked it up.

“Captain Beckman.”
“Good morning, Shawn. Could you come to my office for a minute?”
“Sure, Sir, be right there.” He hung up the phone and went down the hall to the commander’s office.

Shawn Beckman graduated from Officer Candidate School as a 2nd Lieutenant, and two years later, he made First Lieutenant and went to Homestead AFB. When he was promoted to Captain, he was immediately given the position of Executive Officer; he thought that his life was now going to be all gravy. After a year, he received orders to Robins AFB, Air Force Materiel Command. Gravy duty, he thought, another cushy job. All I have to do is ride the gravy train and make major. Now, after nine years and still no promotion to major, he was beginning to wonder.
“How are you doing, Sandra?” Beckman said, greeting the major’s secretary as he walked through the door. He walked past her and into the commander’s office.

She didn’t say a word but nodded. Then she smiled because she knew what was coming.

“Good morning, sir, how’re you doing?” Beckman asked as he came in.
“Fine, just fine, have a seat.”

Beckman noticed there was a slight smile on the major’s face, but his voice had a rather serious tone to it. “Is everything okay, Sir?”
The major looked at him. “Shawn, how long have you been here?”
“It’s been right at three years, Sir. And I might say that I have enjoyed it. Been some rough spots, but overall, a good three years.”

Major Lawson smiled. Beckman saw the folder in his hand, and a thought occurred to him. I’ve made major. Major Lawson handed him the envelope. Beckman smiled, looked at it, and hesitated. He figured he’d play along with the joke. He took it and slowly opened it up, reached inside, and pulled out the paperwork.

He looked at the heading and went flush. “Orders, Sir, I didn’t put in for orders.” He looked at his new destination. “Kunsan … Korea, Sir? I’m going to Kunsan, Korea?” He looked up in surprise. “You can’t be serious… Korea.”
“That’s right. Korea.” The major said with a big smile. “It’s time for you to get orders, and they need a qualified captain, so you are it. Besides, you’ve been riding the gravy train around here long enough, and it’s time you get some overseas command under your belt. It’ll help you when it comes to making Major.”
“But, Sir,” Beckman said, wanting to argue his point.

“No buts.” The Major paused for just a moment. “I know you don’t want to be rifted, do you? If that’s the case, your career is over. So, you’d better, for your sake, take the orders.”

Beckman looked up again, no smile on his face, and still the look of surprise. “Well, I guess it was just a matter of time.” He stood up.
“Good luck.”
“Yes, Sir, thank you, Sir.” He saluted and walked out. Well, I’ve managed so far. I think I can manage over there. What he did not know was that he was about to be put right into the fire.

At Kunsan Air Base:
Beckman was still deep in resentful thought when the bus pulled into the parking area at the visitor center of Kunsan Air Base. When it stopped, he was up quickly and walked down the aisle ahead of the other passengers to the door. He stood there for a second until the driver opened it, and when it did, he felt the cold air rush in. He stepped down off the bus into the cold and brisk air, and the chill cut right through him. He shivered. He turned and went quickly around to the cargo compartment to retrieve his bags. When he got them, he stood there looking around for a few minutes, then he walked toward the steps that led into the visitor center. Definitely not happy about his new assignment, he stepped up on the first of ten steps. At that moment, he heard a vehicle drive up. Curiously, he turned around to see who it was. He saw a colonel quickly step out of what he thought was a staff car and approach him rather hurriedly.

“Captain Beckman,” Colonel Christopher said, the vapor forming from his breath.
“Yes, Sir,” Beckman said, faking some enthusiasm, and saluted.
The Colonel returned his salute. “I am Colonel Christopher. Welcome to the Wolf Pack. How was your trip?”
“Good. As a matter of fact, it seemed rather fast and,” keeping up with the pretense,” I am looking forward to this assignment.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear you say that. Hop in and I will give you a ride to the Squadron.”
“Yes, sir, thank you.” Beckman opened the door to the back seat and put his stuff inside, then climbed into the front. The warm air felt good.
The colonel drove off and continued, “I’m sure you have been watching the news and have seen that the North Korean’s new leader has been threatening war. As usual, everyone in the U.S. thinks his threats don’t hold water, but we here in country believe the threat is credible.”
“Yes, Sir,” Beckman answered, starting to feel a little uneasy.
“We see things a little differently than those Washington politicians, and though they say nothing is going to happen, others in the field say that we need to get ready for the worst. They are also asking for another communications site up there as close to the DMZ as possible. Why, we need another com site is beyond me.”
“We, sir, a communications site, sir,” Beckman swallowed hard because he was thinking he knew what the colonel was leading up to.

They pulled into the squadron, and the colonel parked in his spot. He got out. Beckman sat for just a second more and then opened the passenger door and stepped out. He opened the back door and got his bags out. The colonel smiled. “Let’s get inside to my office.”
They went inside.
“Have a seat,” the colonel said.
Beckman sat down.
“So, as I was saying. Major Command, MAJCOM, got with all the field commanders and pressed the issue. They have now issued a directive that a communications site be established and secured. The Air Force was told to look for a site as close to the DMZ as possible, one we thought would be good for what they had in mind. Overflights were conducted in various areas, and they found one suitable for what MAJCOM wanted. It’s on a hill. The site they found has several buildings that can be repaired and put into use very quickly. Once they decided which site would suit their purposes, they sent a notice to me and told me how many I had to send. Now, a forty-four-man Air Base Defense Flight requires a lieutenant to command, but they want two flights. So, Osan is sending one, and we, of course, have the other.” Colonel Christopher stopped and looked at Beckman, and then continued,” The men from Osan have already been notified and are waiting for the orders to move. Lieutenant Patterson is their commander. You can guess what I am leading to,” The Colonel looked at Beckman. “For the two flights, a captain is required to command them.”
Beckman’s jaw dropped, and he went flush.
“So, you being the new Captain means you get the job. I understand from reading your record that the only time you were in command is when your commander went on leave or was TDY, so I’d say your timing couldn’t have been better. You will in-process here, and in five days, convoy out with eight deuces, any questions?”
They became silent. Well, you wanted to make major, Beckman thought. He just didn’t know that he was about to be in for the worst of the worst possible situations. He also didn’t know that his former commander had made a phone call and talked to the commander of the eighth SPS.
“Yes, sir, one question, is where we are going supposed to be secret? I mean with us being that close to the DMZ, it stands to reason we wouldn’t want people knowing we are there, especially with it being a communications site, or a listening post as I would call it.”
“No, the operation orders which are being finalized don’t mention secret.”
“Okay, sir, thank you. Oh yes, when will I get all the operations order?”
“I’ll call you when they’re done, and we will go over it. And one more thing, I know you’re new to this, so I want you to listen to your NCOs, they will help you.”

“Yes, sir, thank you, sir,” Beckman snapped to attention and saluted, turned, and walked out. As he walked out of the Colonel’s office, a huge wave of fear swept over him. What has he allowed himself to be put into? He walked down the hall to the orderly room and gave the Sergeant his orders.
Sergeant Hixon from Osan was with his team leader, Lieutenant Patterson. They were looking over their new

TDY orders and Hixon asked him. “Sir, exactly what are we going to be doing?”
“Well, Sergeant, from what I understand, we will be guarding a communications site somewhere up near the DMZ.”
“Just how near the DMZ, sir?”
“About 50 miles this side of it.”
“Sir, did you just say 50 miles?”
“That is correct, Sergeant.”
“Don’t they know who it is that’s up there?” Hixon said, not concealing his concern.
“Yes, Sergeant, they do. That’s the reason they are sending us.”