Cap pistols at the ready, "Sukoshi" (Yong Ho Kim) demonstrates his fast-draw technique at Detachment 1, Company C, 728th MP Battalion, whose troops "adopted" the Korean youngster, gave him a place to live and enrolled him in a nearby school. (Chris Weinreich/Stars and Stripes)
PYONGTAEK, Korea — A small, tough military policeman who "could probably outdraw Wyatt Earp" thinks life with an American MP unit here is "number one."
Charley, nicknamed Sukoshi, was a pretty rugged looking fellow when the men of Det. 1, C Co., 728th MP Bn., first saw him.
"We first noticed him shining shoes around the back gate," says SP5 George T. Pembroke. "He was pretty ragged and dirty and soon we were bringing our boots out to him to shine. Then we began to bring him food from the mess hall and occasionally took him in and gave him a shower."
THE MPS WENT to CWO Bennie S. Niemczura, provost marshal and commanding officer of the unit, for permission to "adopt" the lad. Sukoshi was moved in and has lived with the detachment ever since.
But Sukoshi, whose real name is Yong Ho Kim, is more than just a mascot. He's reputed to be the toughest customer between K-6 airfield and where his many "fathers" enrolled him in school last September.
He stands a lean, mean four-feet tall and weighs 70 pounds in his cut-to-order uniform and combat boots. He can twirl a billy club like a baton and daily practices fast draws with a pair of cap pistols before a mirror.
"HE COULD PROBABLY outdraw Wyatt Earp with those pistols," declares Pvt. John P. Kane.
He rates high as a scholar, too, with most of his school grades in the nineties. He occasionally serves as an interpreter in the commander's office.
Asked how he likes life with the unit, he replied, "Number one!"
