Team Osan cleans up local river

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Marasky
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Members of Team Osan, along with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Osan branches of the Red Cross, combined forces to collect trash along the banks of the Jin-wi river as well as in the water itself for the Annual Jin-wi River Clean-up.

"The goal was to get involved with the local Korean Red Cross who has been cleaning the Jin-wi River, which is next to Osan AB, for the past nine years." said Wilfredo Solis, Osan's branch station manager for the Red Cross and organizer of the clean-up. "This was a great opportunity to show our host nation that Osan Air Base cares about the environment and the community; this is our third year joining forces towards a common goal."

Donned in either yellow vests or every day clothes and equipped with large blue trash bags and metallic tongs, the mixed group of Koreans and Americans collected trash and other debris along the river bank. Thirty-four volunteers from Team Osan made the trip to the Jin-wi River for the event.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to attend an event like cleaning up a river because it promotes good relations between the Korean populace and the U.S. military, while at the same time taking a step forward in the reduction of global warming," said Staff Sgt. Omar Ruiz, 607th Air Intelligence Squadron intelligence analyst.

The combined event began in 2005 when members of the Songtan branch of the ROK Red Cross invited members of Team Osan to aid in cleaning the river, which provides water to both the Songtan city district and Osan AB.

"I really enjoyed the experience of getting out and helping the community," said Staff Sgt. Michael Walls, 607th Air Intelligence Squadron target development analyst. "The Koreans I found were very hospitable and friendly. I would volunteer for anything like this again."

To further aid the river clean-up, the ROK Red Cross provided small water craft and divers to retrieve larger and heavier pieces of trash from the bottom of the river.

The bulk of the ROK Red Cross volunteers worked alongside the Team Osan volunteers in walking up and down the river banks, as well as across waterways in order to remove trash and debris.

When the volunteers finished cleaning up the river, the Songtan chapter of the Red Cross treated them to a traditional Korean lunch to thank them for their efforts.

The Jin-wi River Clean-up is one more example of Team Osan doing its part to help the environment and further increase ROK-U.S. friendship.