Camp Colbern

Camp Colbern, in Hanam-shi -- near Seoul, Area II, Republic of Korea, once the home of the 304th Signal Battalion, closed its' doors in late 2005, with the removal of the 304th to Camp Stanley, Area I, Republic of Korea. The camp existed for 41 years, with the 304th occupying the camp for 3 of those decades.

Prior to the move by the 304th Signal Battalion from Camp Stanley, it was a theater-level, echelon above corps tactical signal unit, forward-deployed in the Republic of Korea. The unit provides tactical command and control communications support using Digital Group Multiplexing Assemblages, Tropospheric Radio Systems, Digital Switch Systems and associated communications equipment. Primary services offered by the battalion to its customers included tactical voice, telephone, data communications and message traffic support.

The 304th Signal Battalion's mission was to provide tactical communications support as part of the theater integrated strategic-tactical network in support of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea, Eighth U.S. Army and non-DoD U.S. government organizations within their areas of responsibilities. The battalion's goal was to provide quality, reliable communications support to the warfighter.

The battalion's former MTOE was effective Oct. 16, 1995. The unit consisted of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company and three line companies. Headquarters and Headquarters Company and C Company were located at Camp Colbern. Camp Colbern was situated on the eastern edge of Seoul in the foothills of the remote Kumdan-san Mountains, 18 miles east of Yongsan Army Garrison. A Company waslocated 20 miles north of Seoul. B Company was located at Camp Long in Wonju. Wonju is 60 miles southeast of Seoul. The battalion has been in Korea since the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. The unit served in all ten campaigns of the war and was awarded two Meritorious Unit Commendations.