Grand Reopening of the 2ID, Eighth Army and Korean Theater Operations Museum

By Spc. Alison StroutOctober 21, 2022

U.S. SES Charles Bowery Jr., U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Bill Burleson, retired U.S. Army Col. William Alexander,  U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Lori Robinson, and Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Franco, cut the ribbon in honor of the grand opening of the 2nd Infantry Division 8th Army Korean Theater of Operations Museum at Camp Humphreys, South Korea on Oct. 19, 2022. The museum is free for visitors. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alison Strout)
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. SES Charles Bowery Jr., U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Bill Burleson, retired U.S. Army Col. William Alexander, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Lori Robinson, and Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Franco, cut the ribbon in honor of the grand opening of the 2nd Infantry Division 8th Army Korean Theater of Operations Museum at Camp Humphreys, South Korea on Oct. 19, 2022. The museum is free for visitors. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alison Strout) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Leaders from Eighth Army, Republic of Korea military and local dignitaries were among the guests at the grand reopening of the 2ID, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum ceremony Oct. 19, 2022. Among them, the family of General Paik Sun Yup, Korean War hero and South Korea's first four-star general. Paik also served as Eighth Army's honorary commander.
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Leaders from Eighth Army, Republic of Korea military and local dignitaries were among the guests at the grand reopening of the 2ID, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum ceremony Oct. 19, 2022. Among them, the family of General Paik Sun Yup, Korean War hero and South Korea's first four-star general. Paik also served as Eighth Army's honorary commander. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
One of the most treasured artifacts at the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea, is the Medal of Honor belonging to Sgt. 1st Class William Sitman who was killed during the Battle of Chipyong ni in 1951. Sitman Gym on Camp Humphreys is named after him.
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – One of the most treasured artifacts at the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea, is the Medal of Honor belonging to Sgt. 1st Class William Sitman who was killed during the Battle of Chipyong ni in 1951. Sitman Gym on Camp Humphreys is named after him. (Photo Credit: Kenji Thuloweit) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tanks and armored vehicles sit in front of the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea. The museum has undergone extensive renovations to improve the museum experience and is back open. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Tanks and armored vehicles sit in front of the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea. The museum has undergone extensive renovations to improve the museum experience and is back open. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. (Photo Credit: Kenji Thuloweit) VIEW ORIGINAL
A Chinese cannon on display at the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Chinese cannon on display at the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. (Photo Credit: Kenji Thuloweit) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea- After several months of renovations, the 2nd Infantry Division, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum made its grand reopening on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.

“The Army’s history matters to Soldiers, the insignia you wear on your uniforms, the places around you, and the places you serve, have a deep meaning in our past,” said Charles R. Bowery, Jr., executive director, U.S. Army Center of Military History.

Leaders from Eighth Army, Republic of Korea military and local dignitaries were among the guests at the ceremony. Among them, the family of General Paik Sun Yup, Korean War hero and South Korea's first four-star general. Paik also served as Eighth Army's honorary commander.

The 2nd Infantry Division Museum started off at Camp Casey, Republic of Korea in 1965. It later moved to Camp Red Cloud in 1993, where it would stay until 2018 when it was moved to Camp Humphreys. In 2018, the museum expanded from the 2ID museum, to the 2ID, Eighth Army and Korean Theater of Operations Museum. The addition of the Eighth Army and the Korean Theater of Operations storylines to the museum expands the story of the United States Army experience on the Korean peninsula.

“Our mission is to tell the stories of the Soldiers who have been a part of the Korean Theater of Operations experience since 1950. We further tell the story of the 2nd Infantry Division from its founding in 1917 in France, while also showcasing the United Nations

"Command mission from 1950 to the present," said retired U.S. Army Col. William Alexander, museum director and 2ID and Eighth Army historian.

Many entities are available at the museum such as educational programs, exhibitions, and publications. The indoor exhibits include artifacts ranging from WWI through present day operations. Some of the artifacts include items donated by families of fallen Soldiers, uniforms worn through the decades, and war dioramas involving 2ID and Eighth Army. The outdoor exhibit allows visitors a unique experience of being able to observe old combat vehicles used in the past by the 2nd Infantry Division.

For guest wishing to tour the museum, the operating hours are Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Group tours are also allowed and can be coordinated in advance through the museum by calling DSN: (315)-756-7354, COMM: 0503-356-7354 or emailing: william.m.alexander4.civ@mail.mil.