Tag: Camp Casey

Camp Casey, Korea – 50 years ago. Gunfighter was the Division Commander at the time! #2id #korea #rok #campcasey pic.twitter.com/XGlsyXjwbm

— Korean DMZ Vets (@Korean_DMZ_Vets) September 15, 2025

Here are some pictures I took during a visit to Camp Casey this past winter. Over a decade ago this installation was a hub of military activity since it was home to many more 2nd Infantry Division units than it is today. Today Camp Casey has a bit of a sleepy feeling to it, but the installation has definitely seen much needed renovations over the years. The renovations begins with even the front pedestrian gate being fixed up:

After passing through the pedestrain gate the Army Lodging Hotel can be found.  This building actually used to be an old barracks building many years ago: 

Near the hotel I saw that the old Indianhead Statue that used to be by the front gate of Camp Casey has now been moved inside.  When this statue was located outside the gate I can remember seeing many drunk Soldiers urinating at the base of the statue before going inside the pedestrian gate.  Maybe this is why it was moved inside the base now: 

As I continued to walk up the road from the hotel I saw a really nice looking USO building: 

Here is the view looking towards the PX and commissary area from the USO: 

Here is the law enforcement building located near the front gate which is conveniently located to drop off drunk troublemakers in the ville at: 

This next picture is of the Camp Casey Post Office building located behind the commissary: 

Here is a look at the Camp Casey commissary: 

Adjacent to the commissary is the Camp Casey PX: 

The inside of both the commissary and the PX have remained largely the same over the years, but the outside has been renovated to look like a traditional Korean structure: 

Even the Popeye’s has been renovated to look like a traditional Korean structure: 

A building that was not renovated to look like a traditional Korean building was the Impact Zone club building near the commissary: 

Just up the main road from the PX is the Hanson Pool: 

As well as the Bowling Center: 

Here is the Hanson Field House: 

Further down the road is the Warrior Restaurant otherwise known as a Dining Facility (DFAC): 

Here is a view up the main road as I continued to follow it east through Camp Casey: 

Here is a look at the cemetary located along this road:  

Next to the cemetery a park called Tribute Park has been built: 

These next buildings I walked by used to be used as transient barracks for people who came to Camp Casey for exercises.  I am not sure what they are used for currently: 

As I continued up the road I was able to get a good look at Soyo Mountain that rises over Camp Casey: 

I next passed by the Community Activity Center.  Years ago this was actually a decent restaurant called Reggie’s Soldiers would hang out at if they did not want to walk out to the ville: 

In the center of Camp Casey there is now a large traffic circle with the 2ID patch in the center of it: 

I next spotted a Korean Canteen that is a go-to spot for cheap Korean food on post: 

This next picture shows what the typical barracks building on Camp Casey looks like: 

From this point it was getting extremely cold and I turned around and walked back to the PX to warm up before going back to Seoul.  Something I was happy to confirm along my walk was that what was once called “crackhouses” and quonset huts that once housed officers and NCOs had been torn down.  Hopefully those officers and NCOs are living in better conditions now adays.  

Overall though I found Camp Casey to largely be the same after many years of coming here.  There has been a few new buildings and lot of older buildings renovated over the years, but still the camp largely looks the same.  What is different is how quiet Camp Casey feels now adays.  I visited on a Saturday afternoon and the ville was completely quiet and the base was as well.  This is because far fewer Soldiers are now stationed at the Casey-Hovey duo of bases.  This is because most of the 2nd Infantry Division Soldiers are now housed at Camp Humphreys located south of Seoul.  Camp Casey may be quiet today, but for those of us who served here many years ago will always remember as the one time center of gravity for the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. 

This is cool that the 2ID commander was able to honor his great uncle that was killed during the Korean War:

U.S. and South Korean troops joined family members of 1st Lt. Thomas A. Lombardo this month to rededicate the athletic field at Camp Casey that honors the fallen Korean War hero. Lombardo, commander of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, was killed in action on Sept. 24, 1950, during a mission near Ch’ogye, shortly after the North Korean retreat that followed the Pusan Perimeter breakout.

Among the family members attending the ceremony on April 8 at Lombardo Field were the lieutenant’s daughter, Joanne Showman; son, Thomas Lombardo III; and grandnephew, Maj. Gen. Charles Lombardo, the current commander of the 2nd Infantry Division. The general, a St. Louis native like his great uncle, described the lieutenant as a leader committed to serving on the front lines. “He could’ve stayed up in a division staff — he fought so hard to get down,” he said in remarks provided Wednesday by division spokesman Sgt. Alexander Knight. “He wanted to be with soldiers, lead from the front, and didn’t want to be in the staff.”

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

The community that surrounds the USFK installation Camp Casey in South Korea is the city of Dongducheon. The city has roughly 87,000 people living in it, but for most U.S. Soldiers the only part of the city they really see is what is located immediately outside of Gate #1. This area for many decades was called the “TDC Ville” or just the “ville” for short. TDC stood for Tongducheon in reference to how the city’s name was spelled back then. The TDC Ville twenty years ago was also very seedy and packed with juicy girls.

As the U.S. military began to actively crackdown on prostitution and human trafficking, the ville tried to clean up its act in the 2010’s and rebranded itself as the Bosan-dong Special Tour District. During this timeframe the juicy girls were still there, but greatly scaled down compared to decades prior.

Now during my most recent visit to Dongducheon the ville has once again rebranded itself as Camp Bosan in English even though in Korean it is still being called the Bosan Special Tour District. Here is the large sign near Camp Casey calling the ville now Camp Bosan:

Another large Camp Bosan sign has been installed on the opposite far end of the ville as well:

For my most recent visit to Dongducheon I got off at the Bosan Subway Station and immediately began walking along the interior street adjacent to the subway line:

Here is a view looking down the street adjacent to the subway line:

As I walked near the subway line I could see that Konglish is still a thing in Dongducheon:

Here is something we did not have to worry about back in the day because we were not allowed to drive cars in Korea:

Along the strip adjacent to the subway line I could see that the King Club after decades in business is still open:

I also spotted this huge and impressive mural of a Korean woman in a hanbok on the Eagles Club:

I then turned down a side street further into the ville where I spotted another long time club called the New World. Right above the New World was the Friday Club:

It was here near the New World Club 25 years ago when I saw one of the funniest fights I had ever seen:

Ville Memories: Juicy Girls and Snowballs

I then walked to the far end of the ville where I saw this unique structure that appears to be a little cafe:

I then walked through the main walking path through the center of the ville where I spotted a bar called the Torque Bike Club:

As I continued into the ville I noticed this newer establishment named Miami Club:

Here is a view looking further down the main path that runs through the ville:

As I continued to walk through the ville I saw the Top Club with a karaoke place right next to it:

Here is a club that has been around for awhile, Cowboys:

The Yolo Club is an establishment that seems fairly new in the ville. I did think it was clever of them to have a cash machine right at the entrance of their club:

Down a side street from the Yolo Club is the Spot Club:

Here is a restaurant named the Mommy Store:

Here is a view looking up the street towards the Mommny Store and Club Miami:

I also walked by a Board Game Cafe:

The ville still has plenty of custom tailor shops that I saw as I walked around:

The Star Custom Tailor is one that has been around a long time:

The ville also had plenty of places to get your favorite sports jerseys made:

There is of course a pawn shop for Soldiers to sell off there goods to in exchange for cash to give to girls in the ville:

Here is another newer club the Super Moon:

Here is the New York Club and the DD214 Club:

Here is a wider angle view of the intersection where the New York Club, the New World Club, and Miami Club can all be seen:

Here is a street view of the Loto Club and the Pentagon Bar:

Here is a closer look at the Loto Club:

Here is a closer look at the Pentagon Bar:

I next saw what is probably the oldest club in the entire ville, Club Rendezvous. The Rendezvous had actually been renovated since the last time I had saw it:

According to a sign near its entrance the Rendezvous has been open since 1970. That is a very impressive 55 years of operations in the ville:

The Rendezvous used to be the club I used to hang out at frequently when I was stationed at Camp Casey way back in the day. Then the club was operated by a local gangster named Mr. Han. Here is a story I previously shared about Mr. Han:

Ville Memories: The Rendezvous Club

Here is the Hurricane Club which is right next to the Rendezvous:

Next was the Players Club and the Bridge Club:

In a side alley I saw the Beat Club:

This location used to be where a popular latin club called the Pan Korea used to be at:

Some more clubs I saw was the Seoul Club:

There was also the Crown Club that is one that has been in operation for quite some time:

The Silver Star Club is another one that has been around for decades:

The Las Vegas Club likewise has been around for decades:

Same with the Sky Club:

Further down the street I then saw the Sclub Club. I have no idea what a Sclub is:

I next saw a colorfully painted Popeye Sandwich shop:

Here is the Ace Tattoo, the Link Up Lounge, and Camp One:

As I looked down the street I could see on the right all the food stands that have been added in the ville over the past few years:

This area is where an ajumma used to sell chicken on a stick from a little shack at back in the day. I used to get chicken there all the time until I found out where she got the sticks from:

Ville Memories: Why I Don't Eat Chicken On A Stick

Further down the street I saw a mink blacket store. Getting a mink blanket in Korea seems like a right of passage for GIs to get.

Next I saw the Ace Club:

Then I saw the Empire Club which is another one of the clubs that has been in operations for many decades:

I then came to the area where a large stage has been installed in recent years in a courtyard park:

Near this park is the Sun Club, which used to be located in a different area of the ville, but has apparently relocated in recent years:

The building housing the Sky Club had some pretty impressive grafitti:

Here are some more businesses located adjacent to the park:

Here is a panorama I took of the park:

Here is a closer look at the Wing 212 business:

I then walked into a side alley from the park where I saw the Poory Chop Store. Above this building is where the infamous 1992 murder of the Korean female Kum-I Yun by USFK servicemember Kenneth Markle happened:

Just down the alley from the Poory Chop Store I could see Club Peace:

Here is a closer look at Club Peace which is also one of the older clubs in the ville:

Some other clubs in the alley were the Olive Club and D Club:

There was also the Phoenix Club which has been around for a while:

Here is a look at a few other business located in this alley before it exits where Camp Mobile is located:

Here is a sign at the end of the alley promoting Camp Bosan and the Do Dream Music Center:

Across the street I could see Camp Mobile which back in the day was called the Turtle Farm. This is because the CIF used to be located there and Soldiers had to carry all their gear on their back to Camp Casey looking like a bunch of green turtles:

I then walked over to MSR-3 that passes through Dongducheon and right by Camp Casey. It is where many more businesses are located:

While walking along this section of the ville I spotted a coin and trophy shop:

I also walked by the first vape shop I saw in the ville:

Here are a waffle and kebab restaurants:

I then walked across a crosswalk then began walking towards Camp Casey’s Gate #1:

Here is the view looking back across the street:

Here is a picture of more businesses along MSR-3:

There was also more restaurants and a massage parlor that could be seen:

I also spotted a barber shop:

Here is the last few businesses I spotted before reaching Gate #1 at Camp Casey:

Overall though I am kind of surprised how many clubs and businesses are holding on in the TDC Ville. There has been a large reduction of Soldiers on Camp Casey and the adjacent Camp Hovey to just 4,000 personnel due to the relocation of the 2nd Infantry Division to Camp Humphreys. To make matters even more challenging for the business owners is that the subway station makes it much easier for the Soldiers to go to Seoul which means they spend less money in the ville as well.

Because of the change in the business environment it is very clear that much effort over the past decade plus has been put into cleaning up the TDC Ville. It does look better than I remember it, but the place is still old and rundown. An analogy I like to use is that you can put make up on Songtan Sally, but it is still Songtan Sally.

It really should be systematically torn down and redeveloped, but instead of redevelopment, the city of Dongducheon is leaning in to promoting the ville as a “retro” area in Korea. I don’t think this appeal is going get Korean tourists to visit a rundown neighborhood catering to U.S. Soldiers. Regardless a visit to the TDC Ville was a nice trip down memory lane to see how much has and has not changed in Dongducheon. However, whenever this place is enevitablly torn down one day to be redeveloped, I don’t think I will really miss it.

Note: If you have stories to share about any of the clubs listed in this posting feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below.

2ID veterans at the Korea Defense Veterans Association reunion in Washington DC this week include CPT Sarah Casey, the great niece of MAJ Hugh Casey, the camp's namesake. Sarah served in the 6-37 FA as an MLRS platoon leader at Camp Casey, Korea a few years ago. pic.twitter.com/GIjSNls3HL

— 2id.assn (@2idAssn) July 28, 2022

Thunderous Tank Thursday – M60A3s from either 1st or 2nd Tank, 72nd Armor, 2nd Infantry Division, crossing the river that runs through Camp Casey, Korea in 1989. #tanks #armor #ilovetanks #m60a3 #thunderoustankthursday #2id #casey #patton pic.twitter.com/ufKDZSQwfy

— Korean DMZ Vets (@Korean_DMZ_Vets) April 21, 2022

Soldiers on Camp Casey are currently barred from going outside the gates to neighboring Dongducheon:

An uptick in coronavirus cases near a U.S. base in South Korea prompted the commander to impose a travel ban Wednesday between the base and the neighboring city.

Dongducheon city is off-limits to anyone associated with Camp Casey, except for “approved mission essential travel,” according to a U.S. Forces Korea news release. Dining in off-post restaurants is also restricted.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link, but apparently an uptick in coronavirus cases in Gyeongi province this week from 111 to 135 cases is what led to the travel ban.

Whenever an alert drill happens there are procedures each unit runs through. Each unit likely did not get very far in their alert procedures before the all clear was given as a false alarm. This is much to do about nothing other than making sure it is harder for someone to make a user error mistake like this again:

A U.S. Army base in South Korea accidentally sounded an emergency siren Thursday night, sending some soldiers into a frenzy amid threats of an unwanted “Christmas gift” from North Korea, news reports said.

The incident occurred at Camp Casey in Dongducheon, 40 kilometers north of Seoul, the closest U.S. Army base to the North Korean border.

The Washington Post reported that the siren went off around 10 p.m. instead of taps, the bugle call played at military funerals and on military bases to mark the end of the day.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

US soldiers stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea conducted their annual clean up of the Shincheon River that flows through Dongducheon:

Soldiers stationed near the North Korean border helped fill more than 80 trash bags with debris Thursday as they worked with local organizations to clean up the Shincheon River in their host city of Dongducheon.
Dongducheon Mayor Choi Yong-deok and Lt. Col. Shane Doolan, the 210th Field Artillery Brigade deputy commanding officer, offered opening words of appreciation to the local residents and approximately 100 Camp Casey soldiers who were participating.
“We cannot meet spring with garbage from last winter,” Choi said before the annual event.
The volunteers began by throwing into the river biodegradable balls containing microorganisms aimed at preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

This is an interesting story about the relative of the namesake of Camp Casey serving at the 2nd ID installation:

Second Lt. Sarah Casey shares a name with her duty station, a small artillery outpost near the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

The artillery platoon leader from Collierville, Tenn., played along with the ribbing when folks greeted her with comments like, “Casey at Casey!” after glancing at her name tape. Until last month, when she revealed her secret. The camp was named in honor of her great-uncle, Maj. Hugh B. Casey, a World War II veteran killed in the Korean War who was awarded two Silver Stars during the liberation of the Philippines.

“I’m not here to say, ‘Hi, I’m Sarah Casey at Camp Casey,’ ” she said. “I think it’s important to remember the sacrifices of all those who came before us; that’s what the real story is to me.”

Sarah Casey was 26 when she arrived in South Korea — the same age her great-uncle was when he lost his life.  [Stars & Stripes]

You can read more at the link and learn more about Camp Casey at this link.