Wolf Pack hosts open house, Gunsan Appreciation Day

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  More than 3,600 people attended the 2010 Kunsan Air Base Open House and Gunsan Appreciation Day here Oct. 1.

The event was intended to foster a positive working relationship with the local population and civic leaders; to foster the U.S. Air Force's, U.S. Army's and Republic of Korea Air Force's pride in its combat capabilities; and to demonstrate their combined Coalition power and assets.

"The open house really goes twofold," said Col. John Dolan, 8th Fighter Wing commander. "First, it gives an opportunity for our citizens of Gunsan City, the young and the old, to come out here and get an idea of what we do here. The second part is, it gives an opportunity for the Airmen, the Soldiers and the Airmen of the ROK Air Force an opportunity to see why we volunteer; why we volunteer to serve our country, and why we're making the sacrifices that we've asked our families to give us in order to be here. Especially when we see school-age kids with their moms and dads, and their grandmas and grandpas, it completes a full circle of understanding of why we're here today, and that's the main reason why we're having this open house."

Col. Choi Jae-Hun, ROKAF 38th Fighter Group commander, said the event shared the base with the community.

"Thank you, Colonel Dolan and all the members of the 8th Fighter Wing for making the open house so we can share our community with our Gunsan citizens, and I am honored that the 38th Fighter Group can be a part of this," he said. "I know people have already been to this event before, and I hope this event can only get better year after year so the 8th Fighter Wing, 38th Fighter Group and citizens of Gunsan can work together and make progress."

Gunsan City also held Gunsan Citizens' Day events the morning of Oct. 1, and Gunsan City Mayor Moon Don-Shin said the day brought the community and the base together.

"Today is a whole day of Gunsan Citizens' Day and today is really meaningful in a way that both Col. Choi and Colonel Dolan attended the Gunsan Citizens' Day in the morning, and in the afternoon now we have opened the gate so that Gunsan citizens can understand what Kunsan Air Base is doing more closely, so thank you everybody for making it happen today," said Mayor Moon.

The open house featured an F-16 Fighting Falcon fly-by, Korean dance performances, aircraft and vehicle static displays, organizational booths, military working dog demonstrations, aircraft munitions-loading competitions, music and more.

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Wyatt, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordinance disposal deputy chief, enjoyed interacting with the Korean visitors and explaining EOD to them.

"I enjoyed talking with everybody who was interested and coming to see our equipment and asking us what we do, and being able to explain what we do day-to-day and what our career does overseas when we're deployed," he said. "I also tried to learn Korean (at the University of Maryland University College, previously) and tried to apply (today) what little I do know, because they learn English at a very young age but don't get a whole lot of practice. Bouncing off each other what we know was pretty fun."

Capt. Todd Zielinski, open house project officer, said he believed the event was a success.

"I think it was a good opportunity to show the local population that we appreciate their support and their hospitality here, and it was great seeing all the adults and school children out," Captain Zielinski said. "I know the USAF and ROKAF Airmen were excited to have them out as well, so it seemed like everyone had a pretty good time."

Children from nearby Neul Pureun Kindergarten School agreed.

"Since the kids don't really have experience in riding jets or wearing flight gear, they came and experienced a totally different thing," said a teacher from the school. "Especially seeing the foreigners here, and being able to sit in a fighter jet and wear the flight gear, was an unforgettable moment for them."