Why did you join the military?

I joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1979 to see the world and get my head straight for college. They offered to pay for college after four years of active duty enlistment. After my four years, I attended Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. In 1991, I was activated for the Gulf War. When I came back from the war, a letter was waiting for me from the City of Chicago. I joined the Chicago Police Department in April 1991, and was the department’s first Korean American officer. In June 2001, John Lee and I became the first Korean American sergeants with the Chicago Police Department. Still in the reserve program, President Bush ordered me to active duty for Iraq on Feb. 1, 2005. The city pays the difference, supplementing my military income. I have great support, and fellow officers send care packages.

Where are you deployed?

I am currently in the Fallujah area. I have been to all the major cities in Iraq.

What other countries have you been deployed to?

Korea, Japan, Philippines, Norway, Germany, Britain, Spain, Guam and Kuwait.

Pang stands next to a Russian made T-55 Tank that was damaged during a 2003 battle. He is studying and researching Environmental Protection Agency standards to make recommendations as to how to dispose of tanks that are classified useless war materials.

What were your feelings about going into Iraq before being deployed?

I thought, not again. I really didn’t think about being deployed here, and probably will not until years later, when I can see some of the end products.

Do you use your Korean in Iraq?

Once. Strange, but when I jumped off Kuwait to move forward into Iraq, the Republic of Korea Team was leaving at the same time. And of course since we were all Marines, we traded hats and things.

Have you tried speaking Arabic?

Yes, just the basic survival words needed for grunts to engage in combat.

What are your interactions with Iraqis?

I meet them daily and try to give food and candy to the kids. They love to get soccer balls. The way Marines know that they are safe in an area is when the kids come out and play. The adult Iraqis see me and treat me a little differently. They seem to accept Asians better than Caucasians because Indonesia and the Philippines have a big Muslim following. There are actually a lot of Filipino and other Asians in this country. In fact, in one of the camps they serve kimchi.

Pang with a Baghdad police commander, Military Advisor Gunny Watts and a Fallujah police officer (from left to right).

What have you gone through in Iraq? How has it evolved since you first crossed over into Iraq?

I’ve drove and flown overhead by helicopter all over Iraq. The area is poorly developed by years of oppression by a country that is so rich in oil. You can see the suffering done to a culturally rich and proud people that continually call this country home. They all have fought Saddam internally and won. I have personally gone through the hardship of leaving my two young daughters during their development years, and sometimes feel guilty in seeing the world.