I was commissioned as an army second lieutenant and assigned as a platoon leader of the ROK 1st Infantry Division then located at a remote front area in late 1960s. At the same time, a promising and energetic young 2nd lieutenant, a Korea Military Academy 25th graduate, Ahn Choung-jun came to the division as a recon platoon leader. Lieutenant Ahn's duty assignment was later changed to an aide-de-camp for the division commander, brigade general Moon Hong-gu while my assignment was switched to the division signal staff officer.

Lieutenant Ahn and I became so quickly familiar with each other that we, from time to time, spent weary weekend hours hitting the booze at my tiny lodging house just outside the barracks or having coffee at a small coffee shop in the countryside village.

A year later we both were promoted to the rank of the 1st lieutenant.

We happened to lose contact from the end of 1970 due to division's movement to a new forward defense area.

In the meantime, very recently I could hear about lieutenant Ahn's whereabouts from one of his KMA seniors that he lives in the outskirts of Seoul after being retired as major general from the army.

It was in the evening of October 1, 2015 that we both were finally able to reunite in about fifty years. Waiting for me more than 30 minutes prior to my arrival at the station exit, the retired general gladly welcomed me offering his hand with a broad smile. Although half a century has passed, it wasn't difficult for me to find former looks from his present appearance.

Sharing a bottle of wine at a well known restaurant, we began recollecting various good old memories. During the conversation, my old friend proudly explained that he was assigned as the PKO commanding general headquartered in Cashmere between India and Pakistan in early 2002. He added that it was an ever first case for a Korean general officer to command foreign troops abroad.

Listening to his lengthy explanation on military career, I was able to confirm without question that general Ahn had achieved brilliant accomplishments as a true soldier at home and abroad. I am sure that such outstanding achievements must have been stemmed from his unparalleled high discipline, morale and leadership that he had displayed in early stages. His continued story was enough to let me feel proud to be one of his old buddies. We promised to get in touch as often as we could from now on.

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After the dinner we walked back to the station where my friend still came down to the station platform to see me off. He was waving his hands until the subway car's door was completely closed. It was a moment that I could feel his unchanged sweetness shown to me in uniform five decades ago. I wish him good health and prosperity in the years to come.