PHOTO CAPTIONS:
1. M2-A1 Bradley Fighting
Vehicles of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, prepare for
exercise combat operations.
2. A U.S. Navy AV-8 Harrier
prepares to launch from the USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) in
FOAL EAGLE maritime operations.
3. Two Kunsan-based USAF
F-16s overfly Osan Air Base during exercise air operations.
4. ROK Navy Sea-Air-Land
(SEAL) team members after successfully infiltrating and securing
an area for the amphibious assault exercise.
5. A U.S. Navy Landing Craft
Air Cushion (LCAC) brings armor ashore during an amphibious assault
exercise.
6. An ROK M1A1 tank rolls
off a U.S. Navy LCAC during an amphibious assault exercise.
7. U.S. Marines rush from
a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter to secure a beach during exercise
amphibious operations.
8. ROK Marines rush from
a Light Amphibious Vehicle as they assault the beach at Jangsa-ri
to establish a blocking element against simulated invading forces.
9. U.S. Marines prepare to
move out after securing a beachhead in an amphibious assault
with ROK Marines.
10. An ROK Marine observes
the beachhead from his Light Amphibious Vehicle, as part of a
successful amphibious blocking element to simulated hostile invaders.
11. The ROK must be constantly
vigilant against a renewed invasion. ROK Army soldiers remove
concertina wire obstacles after a simulated brigade-level battle
during FOAL EAGLE 98.
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1 Photo: SSgt. Jim Varhegyi, USAF |
Amphibious Operations
Seven battalions of ROK and U.S. forces combined for the largest
FOAL EAGLE amphibious assault ever conducted. "Korea is
one of the last places where . . . war can erupt at any time,"
said Col. Timothy R. Larsen, the Marine Air Ground Task Force
4 commanding officer.
2 Photo: SSgt. Steve Faulisi, USAF |
3 Photo: Sr. Amn. Jeffrey Allen, USAF |
A day before the massive assault, 160 ROK and U.S. forces
combined to form Task Force Ellis to land a blocking element
three miles up shore from Tok Sok Ri Beach. The Marines charged
the beach via landing craft and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters,
using an over-the-horizon assault. "Our mission was to establish
a blocking force to prevent opposing forces from advancing,"
said Capt. Kyle East, the commanding officer of E Company, 2nd
Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. "Once we established our
positions, the main assault could be launched." The full
amphibious assault involved 2,000 soldiers from the 1st ROK Marine
Division and 3,000 U.S. sailors and Marines. The landing took
place on the beaches of Jangsa-ri and Tok Sok Ri, both near Pohang
on the east coast of Korea.
4 Photo: SSgt. Steve Faulisi, USAF |
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of both evolutions
was integration. "We cross-attached companies, platoons,
artillery battalions, liaison parties and liaison officers,"
said Col. Larsen. "We were able to see how the different
units operate," said LCpl. William Wainright, of the U.S.
12th Marine Regiment. "And since this is probably the hottest
place in the world when it comes to the possibility of combat,
we get an idea of how we can expect to work if a war actually
breaks out."
The integration also solidified confidence in combined capabilities.
"We feel very comfortable that we can work and fight with
the 'ROKs' as an adjacent unit," said Col. Larsen. "We
may not cross-attach as extensively as we have here, but we would
attach ROK Marines who know the terrain."
"We were honored to be with the U.S. Marines," said
Staff Sgt. Chom Su Kim of the ROK 1st Marine Division.
5 Photo: Sgt. Steven Williams, USMC |
6 Photo: Sgt. Steven Williams, USMC |
Conclusion
FOAL EAGLE 98 affirmed the resolve of the U.S. and the Republic
of Korea to deter, defend, fight and win against a hostile force.
This large-scale combined exercise provided unparalleled training
opportunities for the Combined Forces Command components and
its supporting forces. FOAL EAGLE 98 offered an array of realistic,
challenging training events which enhanced the interoperability
between the two nations' forces required to defend the Republic
of Korea.
7 Photo: Sgt. Steven Williams, USMC |
8 Photo: SSgt. Steve Faulisi, USA |
9 Photo: SSgt. Steve Faulisi, USAF |
10 Photo: SSgt. Steve Faulisi, USAF |
11 Photo: TSgt. James Mossman, USAF |
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