"What colour is the Korean ground?" Topic

Odd question, I know.

I am about to start the Korean War in 20mm and was wondering what colour to use for the bases of the troops. I have the impression of Korea as more a dusty dirt base, mainly from photos which tend to be b&w. I can't recall seeing any images of fighting over green grass fields. So has anyone actually been there and seen the ground?

I'm using summer uniforms, so it's summer in my Korea.

Just watched a documentary on Korean War – "Modern Battlefields" on Military channel in USA. All kinds of differend grounds: fields, mountains, forests. No difference with European terrain.

Watch M*A*S*H. It will show you exactly what the terrain looks like on the Desilu back lot in Southern California.

I spent a year in Korea and IGWARG1 is correct.
Also rice patties, red clay, mountains and lots of hills.
The war wiped out most of the trees as I understand.
When I was there in 87-88 we could not touch a tree period!
I should scan my pictures and post them some day.
When I was a lean mean killing machine… ( aka sissy with a m16 )

I spent a third of my military career there. The OFM has it right. The bottom of rice paddies were covered in red clay. During the spring to mid-summer, everything was a very intensive green until the end of the monsoons. Then it started to dry out and everything turned sun-burned tan or brown. Unpaved roads (almost all of them) would be a light dusty color. Most rural houses were mud wattle with thatched roofs, while town buildings were cement or stone with roofs a brick red color.

And Mr. Wigglesworth is right, very few trees during the war. The Japanese cut most of them down for commercial purposes before the war and US artillery and air power took care of the rest.

Good, my old brain is working fine! I was going to say red clay, but was afraid I wasn't remembering correctly. Never been there, just read it somewhere.

Another concur on red clay. I'd post my pictures of Korea, but they'd only help if you were trying to model the interior of a bar.

I've heard that it was quite often covered in white…

I could see if one of my friends would email you pictures from there as they are stationed on the DMZ line (at least for the next 2 years).

Good point, Sgt Carl!

Yes, I had 2 tours with a Mech Bn in the ROK, Jan'84- Nov'85 … And I concur with what the other guys who have been there said … Especially SGT C !!

Thanks all. It sounds like a simple plain dirt would be the most common for spring/summer/autumn. Anything from frolicking-green grass to red mud would suit, but in light of the lack of trees noted above, dusty brown/grey was how I pictured it, and so it shall be. Unless anyone can can convince me otherwise.

"When I was there in 87-88 we could not touch a tree period!"

Nice. "You can help defend us from being overrun by the godless communists, but keep your filthy hands off our trees!"

Don't forget operation Paul Bunyan… it was about the trees. :)

There in 03-04 Camp Howze baby!

"Watch M*A*S*H. It will show you exactly what the terrain looks like on the Desilu back lot in Southern California."

Which works, because parts of Korea look exactly like that in the right season.

BTW, Google Maps and Google Earth are good starting places for this. Go to maps.google.com and search for Seoul. Switch to Satellite view and look around (you may want to zoom out). Of course, you're only getting the view for one season, but it still gives you an impression.

I was at Cp Howze with the 1/31 Mech 3d Bde 2ID '84-'85 … When we weren't on the DMZ …

Legion…. I'd like to inform you that the main hill that splits the camp has not gotten any smaller. Man that was a run.

If you've had to run it that is. My knees ache just thinking about it :)

Yes, they built the Camp on the top, side and base of that "hill" ! Ran it a number of times in the 22 months I was there ! There was little flat ground save for the small parade field(Brown's Field IIRC) near the front entrance. You were either going up or down hill … I'm sure(I hope) they did some improvements to the place since I left there in Nov '85 … More then once comrades of mine rolled down the side of the ridge after have a bit too much at the O-Club that was on top of the hill !

Having just completed 15 months in North Korea it would seem that the grass isn't, in this case, greener on the other side of the DMZ.

Very green during the summer, drab brown for most of the rest of the year unless covered by snow. Plenty of hills and mountains. Trees are making a comeback though.

Once I get myself re-adjusted to life in the real world I would be able to send you some pics of the countryside.

Ezza

I have pics of fields and villages, doubt they have changed at all since before or after the war or indeed between this century and the last.

Ezza

Legion,

There was no parade field that I ever went to when I was there.

All the places to eat were at the very bottom by the front gate area. All the barracks are up at the top, and shops and offices all over up and down.

Only thing I could guess that would be a change is;
There is a cab that is always there shuttling a car load up or down for only a dollar a go(and as many soldiers that can wedge in)

Also there was a small pagoda/fish pond that is nestled in there. I have no clue how long it's been there.

I worked in a quanson hut but a lot of places had been turned into full on buildings.

When I left they were pulling people out and south and the camp was suppose to have been turned over to the ROK but I don't know what happened to it.

I spent a bit of time in Camp Red Cloud, and Camp Stanley, but I would take Camp Howze any day. Loved that camp and the "Hills" made good friends there too that I still keep in touch with.

DZtoe, I think that parade field at the front gate was the place you say where all the food places are now … I had heard after I left they put in a bunch of things near the field, like a laundry mat and some other venders. We used the field for Bn formations, PT, picnics, Change of Commands, etc. No fish pond/pagoda when I was there … Yes, a lot of the Bn Staff offices were in Q-huts on top of the hills/ridges. They had the Q-huts covered in a spray foam insulation, that harded. And made them look like tan Twinkies with thick frosting … I figured sooner or later they'd turn Howze over to the ROKs. I guess Warrior Base on the Z, was turned over to them too, I heard. I don't know if any US troops are still at Cp Liberty Bell at Panmunjam(I think I spelled that right ?!). But the geo-political situation in '84-'85, was different then. And of course 2ID HQ was at Cp Casey adjacent to TDC … Man … that was a long time ago … And ezza123 … welcome back to the world.

Thanks. Legion 4. Just starting to get used to going into a department store or supermarket and seeing so much choice – it was quite scary at first!

Ezza

Even being on the Southern side of the border, in an Infantry unit, after 22 months … Being back in the World took a little getting used to …