Feb 4, 20222 min read

United States Army Garrison - Humphreys

Updated: Feb 14, 2022

By Becky Coffield, HUSC Historian 2021-2022

United States Army Garrison - Humphreys (USAG-H), also known as Camp Humphreys, is a United States Army Garrison located near Anjeong-ri and Pyeongtaek metropolitan areas in South Korea.

The history of Camp Humphreys dates back to the beginning of the 20th century when, in 1919, the Japanese military built the Pyeongtaek Airfield. Later, during the Korean War, Pyeongtaek Airfield was named K-6 after being repaired and enhanced by the US Air Force to accommodate a US Marine Air Group and the 614th Tactical Control Group.

In 1962, the base was renamed Camp Humphreys, in honor of Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin K. Humphreys, a pilot assigned to the 4th Transportation Company, who died in a helicopter accident.

In 1964, Humphreys District Command (later re-designated as the 23rd Direct Support Group) was activated as a separate installation command of the Eighth US Army, providing all direct support, supply and maintenance, storage of all conventional ammunition in Korea, Adjutant General publications and training aides and the Eighth US Army Milk Plant.

In 1974, with the activation of the 19th Support Brigade, Camp Humphreys was re-designated as US Army Garrison, Camp Humphreys. USAG-Camp Humphreys was still responsible for all affairs affecting personnel stationed at Camp Humphreys, but the 19th Support Command was responsible for all support activities vital to the Eighth US Army and its subordinate units. Those units formerly reporting to the 23rd Direct Support Group, reported to the 19th Support Command in Daegu. Only the basic functions remained with USAG Camp Humphreys.

Later, the 23rd Direct Support Group and 19th Support Group were renamed 23rd Support Group and 19th Theater Army Area Command. On 17 June 1996, the United States Army Support Activity Area III (USASA Area III) was established and made responsible for the peacetime support mission for Camp Humphreys, Camp Long, Camp Eagle and US Army units assigned to Suwon Airbase.

On 1 June 2005, the U.S. Army announced that Camps Eagle and Long would close. Both camps were then later closed on June 4, 2010, consolidating installation support activities on Camp Humphreys.

Under a 2004 land-swap agreement, the US promised to gradually return a combined 170 square kilometers of land, housing 42 military bases and related facilities, to South Korea and move US military forces from garrisons in and north of Seoul to Camp Humphreys.

With the creation of the Installation Management Command on October 24, 2006, US Army Support Activity Area III was re-designated as US Army Garrison Humphreys and Area III, on March 15, 2007.

On November 13, 2007, USFK and South Korean officials conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of Camp Humphreys. Under that plan, the 28,500 US troop presence in South Korea will be consolidated into two regional hubs in Pyeongtaek and Daegu.