Medal of Honor Recipients Housing Towers Open at Camp Humphreys

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — Keeble, Kyle and Vera, the three new apartment buildings that opened at this Army installation last week after five years of construction, are named after Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War.

The 12-story towers near Humphreys East Elementary School house semi-furnished apartments that can accommodate up to 216 noncommissioned officers and officers and their families, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Together, the towers contain 144 three-bedroom units, 54 four-bedroom units and 18 five-bedroom units, according to a fact sheet from the Corps of Engineers Far East District.

The structures include underground garages that can accommodate 250 vehicles, playgrounds, gazebos, barbecue grills and public restrooms. The units are equipped with sofas, beds, washers, dryers and other basic appliances.

Funding for the nearly $141 million project comes entirely from the U.S. military, district spokeswoman Rachel Napolitan said by telephone Friday. Some military construction projects on U.S. bases in South Korea are funded by the South Korean military because of cost-sharing agreements with Seoul.

The names of Medal of Honor recipients “are etched on these buildings and have become part of the fabric of our community here,” Eighth Army Commander Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve said during Friday's dedication ceremony.

All three received their decorations posthumously.

“May these buildings serve as a constant reminder of the values ​​we hold dear and that support the Soldiers and Families of this great community,” LaNeve told the crowd.

Master Sergeant Woodrow Keeble of the 24th Infantry Division received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Hill 765 near Sangsan-ri on Oct. 20, 1951. The World War II combat veteran crawled toward three enemy positions under heavy fire and threw grenades that destroyed their encampments, according to his medal citation.

Second Lieutenant Darwin Kyle of the 3rd Infantry Division received the medal for his actions at Kamil-ri on February 16, 1951. He “exposed himself completely to move among his men and encourage them to continue their advance against the enemy forces,” according to his citation.

Kyle then attacked an enemy position alone and killed three enemies in melee combat before being killed by machine gun fire.

Private Miguel Vera of the 2nd Infantry Division was awarded the medal for his actions on Sept. 21, 1952, near what is now the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula. He voluntarily remained in his combat position to cover retreating U.S. forces that were being hit by enemy mortar, artillery and small arms fire, according to his citation.

Bronze plaques bearing the names and photos of Keeble, Kyle and Vera are placed at the main entrance to all three towers.

Several families visited the towers on Friday.

Army Lt. Diana Hodgdon, who lives off post, said her family is waiting for approval to move in and is “looking forward to being closer to the military community” at Humphreys.

“I think being closer to a group of military families living on post is going to help us, as well as being within walking distance of all the great events that Camp Humphreys has,” she told Stars and Stripes at the event.