The U.S. military in South Korea will deploy two more Patriot antimissile batteries and establish an air defense brigade in Korea this fall, the Korean-U.S. Combined Forces Command said yesterday.

The CFC said the 35th Air Defense Brigade, located at Fort Bliss, Texas, will be deployed to Korea to control the new weapons system.

Two batteries of 425 troops, armed with the Patriot Advanced Capability 2 and 3 missiles, will deploy to Gwangju Air Base and the 125-member brigade headquarters will be located at Osan Air Base.

The additional deployment is the part of the $1.1 billion U.S. enhancement plan announced last year as part of the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea, a CFC statement said.

"The deployment of this strictly defensive missile unit brings additional deterrent capabilities to the peninsula," said Lt. Gen. Charles C. Campbell, chief of staff of the Combined Forces Command and commanding general of Eight U.S. Army.

Six antimissile batteries have been stationed in Suwon, Osan and Kunsan since 1994, CFC media relations officer Kim Yong-kyu said. One battery is composed of eight launchers of PAC 2 and PAC 3 missiles. The Pac 2 can fire four antimissile missiles and the PAC 3 a total of 16.

The U.S. military plans to educate the newly assigned personnel about Korean traditions and culture before they start their mission in a bid to give them a better understanding of Korea.

The agreement on the additional deployment was reached last May between South Korean Defense Minister Cho Yung-kil and CFC Commander Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, said Capt, Kim Taek, a public affairs officer.

South Korea and the United States have agreed to relocate U.S. frontline troops near the heavily-armed inter-Korean border to south of Seoul, as part of the planned realignment of the 37,000 American troops here.

The U.S. has said the new arrangement will not weaken its deterrence capability against North Korea, citing the $11 billion military build-up plan by 2006 for its forces in South Korea.

The arrival of the new air defense missile systems comes amid a continuing standoff over North Korea's development of nuclear weapons. A first working group meeting will be held in Beijing May 12 under the six-nation talks that have struggling to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue for nearly nine months.

North Korea's response to the arrival of fresh Patriot missiles was not immediately known. The North recently accused Washington of preparing a preemptive attack against it when the United States announced it would withdraw its troops by October from the heavily fortified inter-Korean border.

But the U.S. military denied the North's charge and said its decision was aimed at granting the South greater autonomy to control the border defenses.

About 37,000 U.S. troops remain in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, but not a peace treaty.

A new B-52 Strategic Air Wing was recently deployed to Andersen Air Force base in Guam.

Bombers arrive at Andersen
by Senior Airman T.D. Cooper
36th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

2/23/2004 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) -- The first three B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., arrived here Feb. 22 under an overcast sky. A total of six bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing will call Andersen home for an undetermined amount of time at the request of U.S. Pacific Command officials.

The bombers are the first rotation to deploy here as part of the command's ongoing force posture adjustment.

"While here, we'll support Pacific Command in enhancing the security of the region, demonstrating U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific, and continuing to fight the global war on terrorism," said Lt. Col. Harry Bender, 5th BW advanced echelon team.

The B-52 advance team arrived about a week before the first set of planes to ensure Andersen was prepared to receive its new guests, and Andersen was.

"We have received outstanding support, and the hospitality has been exceptional -- a very warm reception from all,” Colonel Bender said. “One thing for sure is the great potential Andersen has to offer.”

"We're happy to be hosting our new teammates," said Col. P.K. White, 36th Air Base Wing commander. "The support units here have worked very hard to provide our guests with the best we have."

Colonel Bender said this deployment is a great opportunity for the 5th BW to fly in this region's theater.

"It's a completely different flying environment, with many opportunities to integrate with joint and coalition forces,” he said. “We plan on participating in multiple exercises throughout the entire PACOM area of responsibility."

Being deployed to Andersen may be a new experience for these bomber crewmembers, but hosting B-52s is a part of the base's history.

“Andersen has always been, at its heart and soul, a bomber base, even when there were no bombers present," Colonel White said.

"The last B-52 crews to die in combat ate their last meal at the base,” he said. “So, it really means a lot to have B-52s here again. With these B-52s coming to Andersen, it's like welcoming them back home again.”

Not only was Andersen ready for the 5th BW, but the wing was ready for Andersen.

The crew from North Dakota was ready to leave Minot's freeze. And even the damp weather upon their arrival did not put a damper on the crewmembers' joy to be on the island.

"I'm excited to be in a place with my sleeves rolled up in the middle of February," said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Bleigh, 5th BW aircrew life support. Sergeant Bleigh was the first one in his shop to volunteer for the Guam assignment. This is his first trip to Guam, and he said so far he loves it.

"The temperature was 10 degrees with a wind chill of minus 60 when I left North Dakota," Sergeant Bleigh said. "Now I'm here in 85-degree weather. It's beautiful." (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service)