Korean Communications Zone

Korean Communication Zone (KComZ)
Active	June 11, 1952 - July 1956
Country	United States
Allegiance	United Nations
Size	34,280 personnel (at time of armistice)[1]
Nickname(s)	KComZ
Decorations	ROK Presidential Unit Citation[2]
Disbanded	July 1956
Commanders
Notable commanders	Maj. Gen. Thomas W. Herren

The Korean Communications Zone, abbreviated to KComZ or KCOMZ, was a military formation created during the Korean War as an umbrella unit to oversea supply to United Nations forces fighting on the peninsular, as well as to deal with the problems created by large numbers of refugees and prisoners of war in the South.^[3]

Creation

KCOMZ was formed in June 1952 as an amalgamation of the US 2nd and 3rd Logistical Commands, both of which had been previously co-ordinating supply operations in Korea.

Unit

KComZ became operational on August 21, 1952. KCOMZ became responsible for all logicistical support to United Nations, US and South Korean forces, as well as political and economic relations with the South Korean government, operation of Korean National Railways and control of all North Korean and Chinese prisoners of war.^[4]

Unit insignia

The most common unit insignia worn by KCOMZ personnel depicted an orange flame in a white bracket in the centre of a green shield. Another less common variant exists, also shaped like a shield but with the letters KCOMZ displayed diagonally in white on a green background.

Disbandment

In July 1956 the unit was redesignated the Eighth U.S. Army Support Command, later redesignated the U.S. Army Area Command, and finally the 7th Logistical Command.

References

1. Boose, Donald W. (2005). US Army Forces in the Korean War 1950-5 (1st British ed.). Oxford: Osprey. p. 90. ISBN 9781841766218.
2. "General Orders No. 24" (PDF). Department of the Army. 31 March 1954.
3. Matray, edited by James I. (1991). Historical dictionary of the Korean War. New York: Greenwood Press. p. 259. ISBN 978-0313259241.
4. Boose, Donald W. (2005). US Army Forces in the Korean War 1950-53 (1st British ed.). Oxford: Osprey. p. 90. ISBN 9781841766218.

External links

• Text of the ROK Presidential Unit Citation to KComZ, March 1954