I jumped in because I always wondered how the Department of Defense spent my tax dollars in the war fields of other countries. I never agreed with the amount of money we spend in the Middle East and elsewhere overseas, so I didn’t want to pass on an opportunity to learn about it and to ask questions directly to field commanders.

As an immigrant from South Korea, I understand more than many Americans about the reasons for defending other countries. The love of American people and the power of the U.S. military saved my life and gave me freedom. When I was sworn in as an American citizen a long time ago, I pledged to myself that I would make a lot of money in the United States and pay $1 million in taxes. Rather than being foolish, I viewed that this commitment would be one tangible indicator of my devotion to my new nation and my desire to help it achieve its mission. I reached my goal a few years ago. Still, while I had confidence in my government, I always thought that our military spent much more money outside the United States than was needed. From time to time, I spoke publicly about our overseas defense policy. My general message at those times was: get out of those countries that don’t like us, and stop supporting those countries hate us.

The JCOC trip was awesome and educational. I learned a great deal about our military and understand now much more about our position in the world ? where we are and where we want to be. We are presently the only true superpower, but we also as a nation have a super heart, which makes for quite a dual commitment. I think that is why we face so many challenges; no other country that I know of has both the capability and the willingness to do what we are able to do in the world.

On June 7, 2004, we began the second day of the six-day Conference with Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz: breakfast, a briefing, and a tour of the Pentagon; a briefing on security for Washington D.C.; and lunch at Andrews Air Force Base.

After the orientation in the nation’s capital, the JCOC team traveled by military aircraft to the U.S. European Command Headquarters in Germany, where we greeted by Air Force General Robert “Doc” Foglesong, USAFE commander at Ramstein Air Force Base. Air Force General Charles Wald, Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM), joined us and escorted us during the entire trip in Europe.

We held conferences in Ramstein, Germany; Tulza, Bosnia; Baku, Azerbaijan; Roka, Spain; and on the aircraft carrier Enterprise. We flew aboard C-2 carrier onboard delivery aircraft from Naval Air Station Rota to the Enterprise, about 50 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean, to see and learn about U.S. naval operations. Seeing soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen in action, we learned more about everything from conducting military operations to day-to-day activities of being a service member.

We met EUCOM’s leadership for an update on current operations. Because of a redeployment of U.S. military resources to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the conference adjusted what had been a U.S.-based agenda to one focused on the key command centers engaged in winning the global war on terrorism. Again, it was an educational trip.

Personally, I met several servicemen and women and friends of my friends serving in our military and they all were so confident in their mission. I was impressed with the operations of Navy in Europe under the leadership of Adm. Gregory Johnson, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe.

It was special for me to meet many servicemen and women of Asian ancestry in Germany, Bosnia, Spain, and on the Enterprise. Private Paul Park of Indiana Army National Guard fighting in Bosnia to Mr. Landon, special agent for U. S. Navy intelligence, a Japanese ancestry was impressive service men. I am indeed proud of the 9,000-plus American troopers with Asian ancestry serving their nation.

I was privileged to meet again and chat with U.S. Marine Corps General James Jones, Supreme Commander of NATO and the U.S. Forces in Europe; the late Marine Corps General Raymond Davis, medal of honor recipient, my hero, had introduced us a few years ago. I also met with Lt. Gen. William “Kip” Ward, Deputy Commander, USAREUR, who knows very well my friend General Ellis, who sponsored me for the Conference. I also made a fast friend in Captain 1st Rank Zaur Kaziyev, Director of Azeri Naval Intelligence of Azerbaijan, while we had lunch together. I invited Captain Kaziyev and promised to sponsor him for six-month English classes at Berry College in Rome, Georgia where I serve on the board of visitors, I feel strongly that he may take the offer. It will be fun to assist an old enemy.

I also learned about the new problems in African countries. I am stuffed with new information and I am not sure you want me to pass along to you. One thing I know now is we can’t ignore these issues in Africa because it will be our problem one day, may be soon. Please visit http://www.dod.mil/jcoc/jcoc_67/ to learn about JCOC 67 if anyone interested to know more.

I returned from JCOC even prouder of the members of our military, and I believe our military needs more support from Americans generally, as they face increasing threats from radical groups who hate us because we bring freedom to the people they control. As I told Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz, we have to win the people’s hearts and minds if want to win wars, and we can win in the Middle East if we can maintain our promises for as long as it takes. I know it because I was one of 45 million people whom the United States helped to retain precious freedom from the communists of North Korea during the Korean War.

JCOC, by the way, is not a shopping trip. The Pentagon’s Air Force Lt. Col. Curtis, Marine Corps Major Searing, Army Major Desiree Wineland, and other escort officers “drove” us during the six-day trip. They wake us 4 AM and won’t let us go to bed before 10 PM, they didn’t even give us an hour of shopping or sightseeing, yes, I am whining. Most of all, I can thank them enough for the superb job they done for us. Nonetheless, I bought a 6 oz can of caviar at the airport of Baku, Azerbaijan, and a few hats from the aircraft carrier Enterprise for my family and for my business executives. I made many good friends at the trip, the participants are now my friends and I respect all of them for their patriotism and friendship.

I am prouder than ever as an American, because as a proud citizen I am part of a team that has vision, capability, and a caring commitment to its mission. I felt that the trip was one of the most productive I have taken in a long time, because now I know that my tax dollars are not spent needlessly on foreign soil. Now I see those expenditures as investments. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the leaders in our military and thank to Secretary Rumsfeld and General Larry Ellis for the opportunity.

I brought a bunch of pictures from the trip and you may able to see it on the Web site link I mentioned above. Some of you may be particularly interested in the picture showing a scattered watermelon I shot with a machine gun in Baku, Azerbaijan to show my friends.

May God bless our troops!