By By DONA FAIR
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – Normally one would think that being surrounded by rice paddies, in a small fishing village on the Yellow Sea, would be calm and serene.
But for the men and women stationed here, it's not uncommon to be awakened at 5 a.m. from a deep sleep by a thunderous loudspeaker voice announcing an invasion, resulting in the need to jump out of bed, grab chemical warfare gear and rush to work.
Just 100 miles from the demilitarized zone that separates democratic South Korea from the communist North, training like this is commonplace for the son of a Dowagiac resident.
Air Force Senior Airman Duane S. Blassingame, son of Doyle Blassingame Jr. of 61st Street, Dowagiac, is an electronic warfare journeyman with the 8th Maintenance Squadron, serving a year-long assignment at this remote base.
"My job requires me to work long hours to make sure our electronic countermeasure pods are maintained to the highest level possible. The pods ensure that enemy radar and missiles do not take down our jets and allow our pilots to return home safely," said Blassingame, a 2003 graduate of Niles High School.
At Kunsan, the men and women in the 8th Fighter Wing, also known as the "Wolf Pack," are kept busy conducting air-to-ground and air-to-air missions in support of the F-16 aircraft.
As a warrior base, they are at the front lines to deliver lethal airpower when and wherever directed. Recent events in North Korea have reinforced the need for the airmen to always be alert and ready for action.
"The situation in North Korea always keeps us in a heightened state of alert and makes us always ready for the fight," he said. "This is just a part of the everyday job, so we are used to it and don't even think about it."
Life in Korea is often a dramatic contrast for Americans stationed here. "I would have to say that the people and the culture have given me a lasting impression. The culture is different from ours, but that is what makes it so interesting," explained Blassingame. "The people are a lot like us except they speak another language. They work hard and enjoy having fun just like we do. There are always new things to see and do here."
Missing family birthdays, anniversaries and holidays can make it hard to stay focused on readiness. "Being away from my family and friends during the holidays has to be one of the hardest things for me; I am so close with them. It always helps to call and talk to them," said Blassingame. "But the biggest help is having a lot of close friends here that are going through the same thing. You stick together and create a family here. If you have that, you can get through anything."
Although the hours are long, the training is intense and the loneliness can be overwhelming, Blassingame and his fellow Wolf Packers know that whether a 5 a.m. drill or the real thing, they'll be ready to respond.
ACCOMPANYING PHOTOGRAPHS
1. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Duane S. Blassingame is an electronic warfare journeyman serving a remote assignment during the holidays at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. (Photo by Daren Reehl)
2. An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea during a recent mission. The remote base, often referred to as the "Kun," provides important air support to the Republic of Korea. (Photo by Daren Reehl) For a digital copy of this photo, visit us at:
3. An F-16 Fighting Falcon is framed between the Republic of Korea and U.S. flags as it taxis on a runway after landing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. The American air base is one of two in the country protecting U.S. assets in the region. (Photo by Daren Reehl) For a digital copy of this photo, visit us at:
4. Airmen leave the negotiation building (T-2) in Panmunjom while touring the De Militarized Zone that separates the democratic south from the communist north in Korea. The tense DMZ illustrates the uneasy peace that exists between the two countries more than a half-century after the end of the Korean Conflict. (Photo by Daren Reehl) For a digital copy of this photo, visit us at:
5. A U.S. airman samples some of the local culture while traveling from Kunsan Air Base to tour the famed demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea. (Photo by Daren Reehl) For a digital copy of this photo, visit us at:
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