Camp Humphreys
 | It has been suggested that USAG Humphreys be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2009. |
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| US Army Garrison Humphreys | |
|---|---|
| Near Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea | |
.svg)    Shoulder sleeve insignia of units stationed at USAG Humphreys | |
| Typ | Military Garrison |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army with authority from the Republic of Korea |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1919 |
| In use | 1919-1945 (Imperial Japanese Army) 1950-Present (United States Army) |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders | Colonel Joseph P. Moore |
| Garrison | 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion 25th Transportation Battalion(PMCT) 22nd Korea Service Corps Company 7th ROK Air Force 304th Signal Battalion 168th Medical Battalion 4-58th Airfield Operations Battalion 94th Military Police Battalion |
36°58′N 127°02′E / 36.967°N 127.033°E
USAG Humphreys‼
is a major United States Army base located near Anjung-Ri, adjacent to the Pyeongtaek metropolitan area (Gyeonggi-do province) South Korea. Many Koreans still refer to USAG Humphreys by its Korean War era name, K-6. USAG Humphreys is located 55 miles (89 km) South of Seoul and is one of the U.S. Army's fastest growing installations. "The Hump" as it is affectionately known, is home to Desiderio Army Airfield (one of the busiest overseas airfields with over 60,000 movements annually). In addition to an Army airfield, there are US Army and USAF direct support, transportation, plus tactical units located here with about 9,500 military personnel and nearly 1000 family members.
The installation covers an area about one mile (1.6 km) wide and two miles (3 km) long. USAG Humphreys is located next to the town of Anjung-ri and about 5 miles (8 km) away from the major city of Pyeongtaek. The base covers an area of 1,500,000 pyeong (1 pyeong = 3.3 m) and it contains a commissary, Post Exchange (AAFES), theater, a variety of fast-food restaurants, multiple gyms, the Humphreys lodge, a family restaurant, one indoor swimming pool and a children's water park with Olympic size outdoor swimming pool, 3 AAFES shopettes, and a bowling alley.
USAG Humphreys houses the Eighth United States Army military confinement facility in South Korea which detains soldiers sentenced for no more than a year to confinement, or until they are transferred to a military prison facility in the United States. There is currently no single major headquarters on the base, but garrison command is exercised by the US Army Installation Management Agency. The United States Eighth Army is the ultimate tactical parent unit for most of the organizations on the base. Current units include, but are not limited to, the 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 501st Military Intelligence Brigade, 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion, 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 527th Military Intelligence Battalion, 501st Signal Company, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade (2nd Infantry Division), 501st Sustainment Brigade, 52nd Ordnance Company, 557th Military Police Company, and the 249th MP Detachment.
History
In 1919 the Pyongtaek Airfield was constructed by the Imperial Japanese Army. The bases were built with Korean labor. {{citation}}: Empty citation (help) During the Korean War, Pyeongtaek Airfield was called K-6 after being repaired and enhanced by the U.S. Air Force to accommodate a Marine Air Group and the 614th Tactical Control Group. In 1962 it was renamed Camp Humphreys in honor of CW2 Benjamin K. Humphreys, 6th Transportation Company, who died in a helicopter accident. During and after the Korean War, the base was expanded with land from the settlements of Daechuri, Anjungri, Doojungri, Hamjungri, Naeri, and Dongcahngri.
Future
As part of global repositioning efforts (aka strategic flexability), the US military plans to move the headquarters of USFK and the Eighth U.S. Army headquarters from Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, and the headquarters of the 2d U.S. Infantry Division at Camp Red Cloud, to Camp Humphreys over the next several years. In December 2004, the Korean government agreed to U.S. plans to expand the base, currently 3,734 acres (15 km²), by an additional 2,851 acres (12 km²). The surrounding land, including the towns of Doduri and Daechuri, is home to some 1,372 people who would lose their land. In February 2005, activists led residents to begin a peace camp at the village of Daechuri, which declared autonomy from Korea on February 7, 2006, vowing to resist with violence any efforts to expel them from the expanded base area. On March 6, 2006, South Korean National Police's riot police began to attempt a forcible eviction of Daechuri. There have been several other attempts by the South Korean National Police to evict the villagers. On May 4, 2006, contractors hired by the Korean Ministry of National Defense demolished the Daechuri primary school, which had been an organizing center for the resisting farmers. The Korean National Police provided security for the contractors.
In October 2006, Residents of Daechuri and other small villages near Pyeongtaek agreed to a government settlement to leave their homes and allow for the base expansion. According to a Korea Herald article, "The government has agreed to provide the residents with an additional compensation package under which they will receive a 200,000 won ($230) grant every month for 10 years along with 8 pyeong (26.4 square m) of land in an area being set aside for their relocation. Residents have also been given lump sum compensation [averaging $2,000,000 USD each] which the government claims is between three to four times the current market value of their properties."