Camp Pelham/ #68/ D-17/ D-14/ CS 075925

1. Camp Pelham/ #68/ D-17/ D-14/ CS 075925 Without a doubt, the most memorable Artillery camp is Camp Pelham, in the area east of Musan. Occupied by artillery units until 1992, it had been used continuously since it’s inception until officially closed in 2004. The United Nations Command had established a base camp in July 1951 for the armistice negotiating staff, in an apple orchard just Northeast of Munsan-ni. The orchard consisted of 350 apple trees and rice fields surrounded them. The original camp consisted of 14 tents and one semi-permanent building (a movie theater). At ten o’clock on July 27, 1953, Lt. Gen. William K. Harrison, senior United Nations Command delegate signed 18 copies (six in English, six in Chinese, and six in Korean) of the Korean Armistice at Panmunjon. After the documents were signed at Panmunjon, they were delivered to General Mark Clark, Supreme United Nations Commander, for his signature at the UNC base camp. For that day, the Movie Theater served as the place in which General Clark’s signature would silence the guns on the Korean peninsula. The Movie Theater, would now become known as the Armistice Hall. The UNC base camp would be used for a fallback position for the 69th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Marine Division. It became known as camp #68 old the 8th Army Engineer records in February 1954. Later the 49th Field Artillery Battalion of the 7th Infantry Division used the camp. After the 24th Infantry Division arrived to replace the 1st Marine Division camp #68 would become home to the 13th Field Artillery Battalion of the 24th Infantry Division in August 1955. The First Cavalry Division replaced the 24th Infantry Division October 15, 1957. With this change camp #68 now named D-17 by 1st Cav Engineers would become home of the 2nd Battalion 19th Artillery. In ceremonies held Monday, May 9, 1960, camp #68, D-17 is officially named Camp Pelham, in honor of Major John Pelham. A hero of the Civil War, Major Pelham was one of the great Confederate Artillery leaders. He was known for this incomparable gunnery and stressing of mobility of his gun crews. Pelham was struck by a union bullet in March 1863 and died at age 24. The Armistice Hall was closed in the winter of 1962. It did not reopen until January 30, 1965. While awaiting a new projection screen, the building was used as a briefing room. The movie played on reopening day was “The Longest Day”. The Armistice Hall would be used as a movie theater until Recreation Center #4 would open their brick movie theater. In 1970, the Hall was torn down to build the camp’s swimming pool. When 2d Infantry Division units took over the camp in 1965 it was again re-numbered to D-14 under 2nd Division Engineers.

2. Camp Pelham has housed many Artillery units. Sadly on October 29, 1992, the camp changed hands to the 2nd Division’s 4th Squadron 7th Cavalry, ending years of artillery control. Even though the Cavalry Squadron had called the camp, Garry Owen, the name was never officially changed. Records in 8th Army Corps of Engineers office still had it listed as Camp Pelham in 2001. The camp was officially closed and transferred to the ROKA in the late fall of 2004. On a visit back to Korea in 2009 the camp remains vacant. The village of Sonyu-ri is just outside the front gate. A couple of the favorite clubs that artillerymen patronized during their free time were the Blue Angel, Paradise, Venus, Galaxy, and Diamond.

3. Camp Pelham Main Gate mid 1960’s Arial view when the 19th Artillery occupied Camp Pelham early 1960’s

4. Armistice Hall Theater Grand Opening 1965 Front page from a 1964 Battalion Yearbook

5. 1979 photo is from a Camp Pelham Unit Yearbook. It shows a Unit Police (UP) at the bridge gate in front of limits sign for taking items off base. Photo taken from internet of Camp Pelham gate while 1st Battalion 4th Field Artillery occupied it, @ 1990.

6. These Battalions of Divisions shown were at one time stationed on Camp Pelham, Korea.