Imjin River Bridges
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Freedom Bridge was originally built in 1953 at the end
of the Korean War to allow 12,773 prisoners of war to cross back to freedom in South Korea. It was built next to the remains of the Kyoung-uison Bridge, which was destroyed during the war. With the exception of A Company (which was stationed further south at Camp Giant), the 1st Battalion, 506th, was stationed at Camp Greaves, north of Freedom Bridge and about 2 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone. |
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On June 15, 1998, the four-lane Tongil Grand Unification Bridge
opened, replacing the one-way-traffic-span Freedom Bridge, which had represented the only link from Panmunjom to the south for so many years. The Unification Bridge over the Imjin River is the primary route from South Korea up to Panmunjom on the DMZ, where meetings and negotiations between North Korea and South Korea are held. This bridge is sym- bolic to the Korean people of ultimate reunification of the two Koreas, and it was guarded by the 1st Battalion Currahees. All visitors to Panmunjom, from the South Korean president to American VIPs, were greeted with "Stands Alone!" upon crossing. |
