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Wednesday, November 1, 2000

U.S., Korean Marines take
Foal Eagle exercise to the beaches

By Jim Lea
Osan bureau chief

POHANG, South Korea — Geysers spouted 50 feet high.

Huge fireballs blossomed from an artillery barrage.

U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets swooped in to hold down "enemy" forces with strafing fire.

As bombs exploded around them, U.S. Marines and their South Korean counterparts moved ashore in armored personnel carriers, hovercraft and conventional landing craft.

The scene was Tok Sok Ri beach, the event a simulated amphibious landing that was the centerpiece of the Foal Eagle 2000 exercise.

U.S. Marines, from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force on Okinawa, landed in armored personnel carriers launched from the amphibious ships USS Fort McHenry and USS Essex. South Korean marines also came ashore in armored personnel carriers, spreading a smoke screen to cover the landing.

U.S. Navy Hornets came from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk and directed simulated strafing runs at South Korean marines acting as opposing forces.

U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air-Cushioned vessels landed support vehicles and supplies while South Korean landing ships brought more tanks ashore to fight and chase away those on the beach.

The pyrotechnic realism was provided by U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts from Guam, and South Korean military engineers.

Chief Petty Officer Andrew Black, assigned to U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 based on Guam, helped supervise the explosive charges.

"The assault went very well," Black said. "The assault force achieved its objective of securing the beach. The important thing in any beach assault is communications. Communications between the South Korean and U.S. units went very smoothly.

"I enjoy the cross-training with the (South Korean) marine engineers. We teach them some of our techniques and learn some of theirs. These kinds of operations also help in reducing the communication gaps," he said.

Lt. Gen. Kim Young-hwan, commandant of the South Korean Marine Corps, arrived on the beach by helicopter immediately after the landing to chat with his troops.

Foal Eagle, one of three major military training exercises held by the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command in South Korea each year, ends Nov. 3.