__NOTOC__ Camp Howze was a United States Army post in Bongilchon, South Korea. It was deactivated and turned over to the South Korean Army in 2005, and converted into an art museum in 2026.
History
Originally a US Marine Corps—divisional level—command post for the 1st Marine Division 1953–1955, named Tonggu.
In 1955, when the Marines departed Korea, the 24th Infantry Division of the US Army placed their headquarters on the site. In 1957 the camp became the division headquarters for the 1st Cavalry Division, which in 1960 named the camp after Major General Howze, who had organized and trained the division from 1921 to 1925. The division was re-flagged as the 2nd Infantry Division in 1965. +The Active United States Army Worldwide in April 1968 — By Major Command and LocationStanton, Shelby, Vietnam Order of Battle: A Complete Illustrated Reference to the U.S. Army and Allied Ground Forces in Vietnam, 1961–1973, Stackpole Books 2006, p. 340–341 where a divisional order of battle in Korea can be found. Major Command Location Infantry Armor 2d Infantry Div Tonggu Ri 2/38, 2/9 (M) 1/9, 3/23 1/38, 1/23 (M), 2/23 (M) 1/72, 2/72
3rd Brigade HQ In 1971 it became the headquarters for the 3rd Infantry Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division. "The 3rd Brigade was responsible for the security of the United Nations delegation at Panmunjom and for the security of the American sector of the Demilitarized Zone."
Before 1971, the brigade headquarters was located at Camp Young. When the 7th Infantry Division was withdrawn from South Korea in 1971, a consolidation along the DMZ occurred:
The 2nd Infantry Division moved its main command out of Camp Howze and relocated north to Camp Casey (which had been vacated by the 7th Division). With Camp Howze now empty, the Brigade moved its headquarters from Camp Young.
The 3rd Brigade remained at Camp Howze until its inactivation on 1 October 1992 and when the Engineer Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division placed their headquarters at Camp Howze.
Deactivation At the time of its deactivation in 2005, Camp Howze was the home of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), Engineer Brigade, Second Infantry Division and the 44th Engineer Battalion. However, the 44th had participated in the deployment of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Second Infantry Division, in August 2004, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was subsequently redeployed to Fort Carson, Colorado, and did not return to Camp Howze.
On 12 September 2018, a dedication ceremony was held for the Omma Poom park, which was constructed on the site of the former Camp Howze.
In 2026, the Pyeongwha Museum S827 opened its doors in a historic U.S. Army Post Exchange (PX) building at Camp Howze. Its spacious halls serve as a regional public arts and peace center, hosting rotating contemporary art and history exhibitions.
Camp garrisons It was a garrison for the 1st Battalion of the 31st Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion was re-flagged (i.e., re-designated) as the 5th Infantry in 1987.
In 2026, the Pyeongwha Museum S827 opened its doors in a historic U.S. Army Post Exchange (PX) building at Camp Howze.
Location
The site of Camp Howze originated with the 1st Marine Division's establishment of a command post at Tonggu.
Camp Howze spanned three ri administrative districts located in Jori-eup, which is a sub-administrative district of Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do: Front gate: Bongilcheon-ri (봉일천리) Noejo-ri (뇌조리) Janggok-ri (장곡리)
In popular culture Camp Howze was featured in Larry Bond's Red Phoenix, a 1989 techno thriller.
See also List of United States Army installations in South Korea
Notes
External links
Image of a military topographic map that notes the location of Camp Howze. Image of the 24th Infantry Division's headquarters (later named Camp Howze). Image of Camp Howze.
References