CAMP CASEY, South Korea -- Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, hike the steep incline of a nearby mountain through deciduous forest on a path long hidden by brown broad leaves from seasons past, May 10, Camp Casey, South Korea.
The group is making their way to Casey Cross, May 10, on Camp Casey, South Korea, where they've made it their mission to beat the trail through old bunkers, and refurbish a long-neglected piece of the installation's history.
"The original cross was put up here in 1954," said Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Mauer, a native of Sandpoint, Idaho, the liason noncommissioned officer in charge assigned to HHB pointing out a concrete cross covered by brush and roots. "But it deteriorated and now there's this one."
Maj. Hugh Boyd Casey, the namesake for Camp Casey, was killed in an aircraft accident Jan. 11, 1952, and the base was dedicated to him later that year. The cross was erected as a memorial to his military service two years later.
"The cross will be restored to its original state of cleanliness with visibility made available to all that pass through Camp Casey," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 James M. Verschueren, the liason officer in charge, assigned to HHB.
Casey's cross stands well over fifteen feet tall, its white finish grayed from years of weather and wear.
Soldiers cleared brush surrounding the plateau, cleaned up the trail leading to it, and scouted for potentially hazardous areas that need to be taped off.
"We're going to come up here every Saturday until the job is done," said Sgt. 1st Class Juan C. Aue, from Teaneck N.J., the fire control equipment noncommissioned officer in charge, assigned to HHB. "I want this to be a place everyone can enjoy, hike up here and have lunch."
While there is still plenty of work to be done, the Soldiers who volunteer to be a part of this cleanup crew show no signs of slowing down.
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