WAEGWAN -- The newest U.S. military installation in the Republic of Korea, bearing a price tag in excess of $17 million, has been under construction since 1959 and is scheduled for completion in 1967.

Crowded into the 300 acres of Camp Carroll, the unique U.S. Army Storage Facility is rapidly becoming one of the largest military supply and ordnance posts in the Far East.

In relation to the entire Far East area, Camp Carroll will contain the only heated warehouses, the largest amount of refrigerator space, the only instrument calibration laboratory, arid the U.S. Army Bureau of Weights and Measures. It will supply and maintain a wide variety of military materials from stop watches to sentry dogs.

According to the post commander, Col. C. B. Drennon Jr., the concept for Camp Carroll was formed in 1958 after considerable concern was expressed over the heavy logistical concentration of the Eighth U.S. Army Depot, Bupyong, which is within artillery range of communist north Korea.

The new facility is located some 200 miles south of Seoul on the Main Supply Route and 115 miles north of the port city of Pusan.

Construction was begun in 1959 by the 44th Engineer Ian. and the Korean Service Corps as a troop labor project with initial efforts concentrated on development of basic roads, handstands and quonset buildings for the first contingent of personnel.

Reserve stocks for all U.S. Army technical services were transferred to Camp -Carroll in June, 1960. An advance party of 35 men from the 19th Quartermaster Co. was sent to the new site to receive the stocks pouring in.

In less than a month, 1,688 truckloads and 26 rail cars of material and equipment were received and stored. The 19th Qm. Co., later reorganized as the U.S. Army Storage Facility Garrison, was the first unit to be stationed here.

Under the Military Construction, Army (MCA) program, the new facility is to be completed in seven stages, of which three have been finished and two others are in progress.

The first three phases included troop housing, administration buildings, ordnance and maintenance facilities, asphalt handstand areas for engineer and ordnance equipment, plus 70,000 square feet of permanent, temperature-controlled warehousing.

The fourth phase is now under construction and includes several new warehouses, quartermaster and signal facilities, post support facilities such as a fire station, power plant, and improved roads and hardstand areas being completed by contract labor and troop construction.

Troop barracks have been completed and are of the permanent single-story block type with indoor latrine, laundry and day-room facilities.

Drennon said that recreational facilities such as bowling alleys, a gymnasium, theater and library have been finished three years ahead of schedule.

"There are only 162 enlisted men and ten officers on the post. They often work 12 hours a day, and sometimes longer. It is important to provide them with the means for wholesome relaxation under these conditions."

"Only because of the cooperation of these men have we been able to realize a much higher degree of efficiency than anticipated. Not only does this get the job done faster, but it saves money. I'm really proud of these men."

As the facilities near completion, more men will be stationed at Camp Carroll. By 1966, the total post population will be more than 1,000.

When complete, the post will store almost 100,000 tons of supplies for the technical services. To do this, nearly 300,000 square feet of warehouse space will be needed, along with 2.5 million square feet of outside hardstand lots for tanks, trucks and heavy construction equipment.

Camp Carroll is the only U.S. military post in Chil Gok County and lies in the evening shadow of Hill 303 where one of the most notorious atrocities of the Korean War was committed by communist forces.

Twenty-six soldiers from the 1st Cav. Div. were captured on the hill during the attempt to break through communist lines during the early days of the Pusan Perimeter. Evidence shows that these men were bound and shot in the back.

Shortly after this, the United Nations Command dropped nearly 1,330 tons of high explosives onto the communist lines near Waegwan and, with the second front opening at the communist rear after the landing at Inchon, the 1st Cav. Div. recaptured Hill 303.

Camp Carroll is the only U.S. military post located in the Waegwan area since Japanese forces maintained a replacement depot here some 400 years ago.

"We find a fine spirit of friendliness among the townspeople," Drennon said. "Many of our neighbors are employed on post and the population of Waegwan has increased by almost 4,000 since 1959.

"Significantly, we also have a very low theft rate from the compound. This, I think; is largely due to the cooperation of local and county governments and the work of local police officials.

"The construction of Camp Carroll will help the economic growth of the local community, but will represent a significant cost savings for the U.S. Army.

"Many services and facilities, now spread out from Bupyong to Pusan, will be consolidated here to provide faster, more efficient and more economical service to the U.S. armed forces in the ROK."