[KOREAN-WAR-L:11344] Army Security Agency in the Korean War

[John C Cheek <johncheek1@juno.com>]

I think the overall mission of the ASA in Korea was to gather
intelligence that might be of value in helping our combat troops on the
ground. I expect that some of their intercepts might have had political
values also. I was a doggie in the organizational segment of the ASA that
monitored the front line voice radio communications of the enemy. 

Other segments of ASA monitored teletype communications - we called them
the dit-dot-dash boys. They were located far behind the MLR. The one in
my Battalion was located just north of Seoul a few miles. In fact, my
Battalion headquarters was quite a distance north of Seoul in I-Corps
headquarters near the village of Uijonbu.

My limited knowledge of the details of ASA activities are described in my
book STAY SAFE, BUDDY. I say limited because the access to information
other than that required for each man to do his job was carefully
controlled. For example, even though I was in charge of the Battalion
mail room and message center for awhile and had responsibility for
keeping track of classified material, much of it was not available for me
to read. It was packaged in such a way that only those cleared to have
that information could view it. I had a TOP SECRET clearance but I saw
very little actual details of anything marked TOP SECRET. 

Nobody should read my book expecting to get details of ASA overall
organization and activities. The book is centered on the
interrelationships of the men of ASA as they worked and played. I spent
the last three months of the war manning a ASA bunker in the 1st Marine
Division (or 25th Infantry in relief) and sat through a few battles as a
frightened noncombatant. I go to some lengths in an effort to describe
the paralyzing fear and helplessness of being in the target zone of a
massive artillery barrage. I expect that my infantry buddies have that
experience in common. However, I am grateful that I didn't have to go out
on patrols in the black of night or engage in the actual combat
activities. Nevertheless, the experience scared the hell out of me and
changed my life outlook dramatically and permanently.

Best regards, semper fi and,
        Stay safe, buddy.
        J. Charles Cheek   (John)
        Author of "Stay Safe, Buddy" (ISBN 159286631X)
        A Novel about Humor & Horror during the Korean War
        www.authorsden.com/jcharlescheek



On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 21:53:21 -0600 Ed Evanhoe <evanhoe2@korean-war.com>
writes:
> John,
> 
> Actually very few know of what the ASA did during the Korean War so 
> 
> anything you could put out about your time would be of value.
> 
> Ed
> 
> 
> 


       

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