Three housing towers that debuted at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Sept. 13, 2024, are named for Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — Keeble, Kyle and Vera, the three new housing towers that opened at this Army installation last week after five years of construction, bear the names of Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War.
The 12-story towers near Humphreys East Elementary School hold semi-furnished apartments for up to 216 noncommissioned and commissioned officers and their families, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Combined, the towers contain 144 three-bedroom, 54 four-bedroom and 18 five-bedroom units, according to a Corps of Engineers Far East District fact sheet.
The structures include underground parking garages for 250 vehicles, playgrounds, gazebos, barbecue grills and a public restroom. Units are furnished with couches, beds, washers, dryers and other basic appliances.
Funding for the nearly $141 million project came entirely from the U.S. military, district spokeswoman Rachel Napolitan said by phone Friday. Some military construction projects on U.S. bases in South Korea are paid for by the South Korean military due to cost-sharing agreements with Seoul.
The Medal of Honor recipients’ names “are etched on these buildings and are now part of the fabric of our community here,” Eighth Army commander Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve said at Friday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
All three received their decorations posthumously.
“May these buildings serve as a constant reminder of the values we hold dear and support the soldiers and families of this great community,” LaNeve told the crowd.
A ribbon is cut for Vera Tower, named for Medal of Honor recipient Army Pvt. Miguel Vera, at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Sept. 13, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
Vera Tower, named for Medal of Honor recipient Army Pvt. Miguel Vera, opens at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Sept. 13, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
A kitchen inside Vera Tower, named for Medal of Honor recipient Army Pvt. Miguel Vera, at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Sept. 13, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
A laundry room inside Vera Tower, named for Medal of Honor recipient Army Pvt. Miguel Vera, at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Sept. 13, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
A bedroom inside Vera Tower, named for Medal of Honor recipient Army Pvt. Miguel Vera, at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Sept. 13, 2024. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)
Master Sgt. Woodrow Keeble of the 24th Infantry Division was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Hill 765 near Sangsan-ri on Oct. 20, 1951. The World War II combat veteran crawled toward three enemy positions under heavy fire and threw grenades that destroyed their encampments, according to his medal citation.
Second Lt. Darwin Kyle of the 3rd Infantry Division received the medal for his actions in Kamil-ri on Feb. 16, 1951. He “completely exposed himself to move among and encourage his men to continue the advance against enemy forces,” according to his citation.
Kyle went on to charge an enemy position by himself and killed three enemies in hand-to-hand combat before he was killed by submachine gun fire.
Pvt. Miguel Vera of the 2nd Infantry Division was awarded the medal for his actions Sept. 21, 1952, near the current-day Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula. He voluntarily remained in his fighting position to provide covering fire for retreating U.S. forces that were hit by enemy mortar, artillery and small-arms fire, according to his citation.
Bronze plaques featuring Keeble, Kyle and Vera’s names and pictures are placed at the front entrance of the three towers.
Several families toured the towers Friday.
Army 1st Lt. Diana Hodgdon, who lives off post, said her family was awaiting move-in approval and was “looking forward to being closer to the military community” in Humphreys.
“I think being closer to a bunch of military families living on post is going to help us, along with being able to be within walking distance of all the great events that Camp Humphreys has,” she told Stars and Stripes at the event.
