Sandy Hook Soldier Serves In Foal Eagle ’99

TONGDUCHUN, REPUBLIC OF KOREA — When the son of a Sandy Hook couple first arrived here, his glimpse of the serene and tranquil setting of farmers tending rice paddies neatly tucked between rugged mountains held an eerie, almost surreal appearance. What made this rural farmland in South Korea’s northern provinces different from most was its setting — just a few short miles from one of the world’s most tense and potentially dangerous borders.

Army Spec Scott L. Kozek, the son of Larry and Debbie Kozek of 23 Housatonic Drive, traveled over 7,000 miles as part of an exercise called “Foal Eagle ’99,” designed to test the readiness abilities of units both in the area and back in the United States to respond to a crisis along the potentially volatile border between the two Koreas.

“Foal Eagle” involves over 500,000 Republic of Korea and more than 30,000 US forces with elements from every service. In an exercise of this nature, half the battle is just getting there, with the loading and picking up of supplies, vehicles and equipment just as important as the simulated battle itself. For Spec Kozek and his unit, preparation began months before.

“We began preparing for this exercise by working long hours repairing our vehicles before they could be shipped to Korea for this exercise,” he said.

“Before we could deploy, we had to undergo a series of inoculations to ensure that we don’t get sick during this exercise. Then, we all underwent a thorough physical before we were cleared for an 18-hour long flight to Korea.”

Spec Kozek is part of a task force from elements of the 4th Infantry Division based at Fort Hood, Texas. “My job during the exercise is to operate one of the tanks, which protects our troops and acts as a primary offensive weapon in the battlefield,” he said.

Spec Kozek is assigned with Headquarters, 2nd Brigade at the central Texas-based post of Fort Hood.

 “Back at Fort Hood I spent most of my time providing maintenance to our tank, keeping it prepared for combat at all times,” he said.

“After work I enjoy going to different areas of Texas with my friends. We’ve visited Dallas, Waco, Houston and Austin. I’m having the time of my life.”

With 1.2 million North Korean soldiers posing a constant threat to peace on the Korean peninsula, Spec Kozek and his fellow soldiers realize that, whether a few miles from the DMZ or half a world away at their home base at Fort Hood, readiness is not so much a word as a way of life.