Free cultural tour honors Airman as outstanding USFK service member

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio
  • USFK Public Affairs
SEOUL, Republic of Korea --  One Kunsan Airman was honored as an outstanding service member with a free, three-day Korean cultural tour recently to parts of the peninsula he may not have visited otherwise.

Airman 1st Class Todd Scarbrough was one of more than 140 United States Forces Korea service members to visit a national museum, historical Korean tombs and temples, and get a behind-the-scenes look at Korea's top motor and ship building company.

The cultural tour into the past and future of Korea was meant to honor outstanding USFK service members and was hosted in part by the USFK Public Affairs Community Relations office.

"It is a way to enhance Republic of Korea and U.S. relations and to execute the commander's priority of improving the quality of life for service members and their families, making Korea the station of choice," said Steve Tharp, USFK Public Affairs Community Relations chief. "It is an excellent opportunity for them to see and learn about their host nation."

Scarbrough, who works in the Passenger Travel Office, said he has been on cultural tours before. He was recently recognized for giving CPR to a Korean-national co-worker who was having a heart attack and subsequently saving his life. Because of this, he has been nominated to go on different tours and represent his unit.

He said that although he has learned a lot about Korean culture in the three months he's been here, this particular tour will be a hard one to top. He noted the last day as one of his favorite stops.

On the final day, the group held a wreath-laying ceremony at a monument in Osan honoring the 24th division of the American Army stationed in Japan, who fought in the Korean War in 1950 as a United Nations Army. After the wreath-laying, the group got to view photos from the war on display in front of the monument.

"My favorite part was our visit to the monument honoring the Task Force Smith soldiers," Scarbrough said. "One of the display photos was taken right across from where we stood. It was an honor to stand where such a monumental and important battle took place."

Scarbrough said he also enjoyed exploring the religious background of the country during visits to the Bulguksa Temple and Sokguram Grotto in Gyeongju.

"I enjoyed watching the monks seek blessings and wishes from the Buddha," Scarbrough said. "It was a very serious and meaningful service. We couldn't take photos, but I understood and respected that."

He said learning about the religious background of the people of Korea gave him a better understanding of their values and common practices today.

The USFK Public Affairs Community Relations office plans to keep hosting cultural tours as long as they have outstanding service members to honor. For more information on the Good Neighbor program, visit www.usfk.mil.