By Joseph Damery
It was early April near the outskirts west of Pyongtaek, South Korea…
The weather was perfect for a Photo-Walking tour via the Dikes that surrounded the many Rice-Paddies within a 2-mile range of My assigned, “Marine-air base K-6”, and I had a Day off….
My 5th Air-Force USAF Air-Tfc-Control-Tower duties allowed 2 days-off every 5 Duty Days and Nights…. Stopping at a Klatch of 5 Mud-Brick houses, I was Setting my, Camera for some photos of a Large Momma-Sow and her Hungry set of Piglets… They were contained in a Simple, but neat Enclosure made of Wood and Thatched Rice-Straw…..
A Sign indicated that She was a Gift from, Texan 4hr’s to the People of Korea… While taking some shots, a nearby man’s Voice said, So-distinctly; “Spring has Come!”….. A young 25-year-old man approached me, speaking quite clear English…
He was, Offering his hand, and saying; “My name is, Kwang-Soo-Chang, teacher of languages, at P’yongtaek High School. May I invite you into my home to meet my family?”…..
Bowing in their custom, I entered while he introduced his Young wife and infant son…. He assured me, that Once-well-Boiled, the Water would make Excellent tea, which indeed it did… after a few minutes, he pointed to his Library – a Wooden-shelf w/ many Soft-Cover Text Books, one of which was, “WALDEN”…
Upon learning that my home was only 4 miles from that Location, he was Excited beyond-words… Mr. Chang asked if I would read a few Paragraphs…. It was my Very-First-time for ever reading that Classic. Truly I had never taken the time to do so back at Home in Bedford, Mass. …
His response to my Reading aloud made Me feel most-humble indeed, in the Presence of this Educated Man and his wife and Child… He asked if I would consider doing so for his High-School Classroom, and eventually in Weeks to come I borrowed a Base-Jeep and did so…
I was applauded by those boys and girls and felt so very-Honored Indeed…
Now at 85, my memory of that Occasion is so-clear as if it had happened just Days ago…
I hope this Story will be of some interest to Just anyone who might read it.
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