Uneasy Truce Has Sgt. Yokoi On Alert
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For Army Staff Sgt. T.K. Regan Yokoi, who currently serves at Camp Bonifas, South Korea, a typical day at work is anything but typical. In fact, as part of a small group of troops providing security and tours for people visiting and living near the most heavily militarized border in the world, it’s safe to say that the Kailua resident’s mission is a dangerous one.
Yokoi protects the Joint Security Area at the DMZ, or demilitarized zone. For the past 57 years, the DMZ has been the place where all negotiations between North and South Korea take place, and a row of conference buildings, when dissected in half, literally draws the line separating the two.
Being that the two nations are still at war, Yokoi also is responsible for the safety of United Nations personnel and South Koreans living nearby.
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“I provide intelligence support to the battalion commander here,” said Yokoi, a 1999 Kamehameha Schools graduate. “Our job is important because we let people know the history of the Korean War. We also educate people about current situations at the DMZ.”
Yokoi describes it as an unusually quiet and tense place, but it’s his duty to make sure he is prepared whenever tension breaks. Although his mission is a serious one - and one he does not take lightly - Yokoi is quick to mention the perks of serving in Korea.
“Korea has great food, and they have generally nice people,” he said. “But the importance of our unit’s mission is to support the Armistice agreement signed by North and South Korea.”
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