We talk about Army values and standards. Harry Kim is the living embodiment of those values as demonstrated by deeds. He has embraced these values and set the standard throughout his 50 years of service, 19 of those with Far East District (FED). Kim is the chief of the Far East District Contracting Division.
Although safely in the U.S. during the Korean War, Kim volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1952, the midpoint of the conflict, to do what he could for his parents and close relatives in Korea.
Although Kim tried to get to Korea, it didn’t work out. The Army sent him to Kentucky where he served 24 months at the Armor School’s Foreign Liaison Section at Fort Knox, Ky., as an interpreter for visiting Republic of Korea armor officers receiving training under the exchange military students program.
Following his Army service, Kim attended the University of Illinois at Urbana, majoring in business administration. During his junior year, Kim returned to Korea to see his ailing father after almost 10 years of absence. After his father’s passing, Kim took a job at the Korea Procurement Agency (KPA), now known as USACCK, as a special assistant to the legal staff.
"I viewed the job as temporary employment," Kim said. "I took the job right after my marriage and never dreamed that I would be in federal service for a half-century."
He emphasized that it was his wife’s constant care for his health and her daily prayers that kept him going this far.
During his 17 years of service at KPA, Kim served in many capacities. He began his career as an intern, advancing in responsibility as a journeyman contract specialist, and then a contracting officer with an unlimited warrant responsible for all phases of contracting for services, supplies, construction and cost type contracts for the repair and maintenance for U.S. Forces Korea.
During Vietnam, Kim procured all personal items such as camouflage uniforms and jungle shoes in support of Korean troops deployed in Vietnam. For his efforts of timely execution of contracts, Kim was commended by the various Republic of Korea and U.S. government agencies.
In 1989, Kim’s leadership and character were again recognized when he was promoted and became the Chief of Contracting for FED.
Some people read about history, others live through it, and still others make it. Kim has not only witnessed the changes and improvements at FED, he has played an instrumental role in making FED a success.
"The greatest change I have seen is the switch to paperless contracting," Kim said. "In the beginning, all of our work was done with hard copies from the solicitation to award of contract. With the introduction of electronic equipment and computer systems, all contracting processes were streamlined and procurement actions could be executed expeditiously. All the voluminous hard copies of drawings and specs are squeezed into a single diskette."
Kim took the overall improvement of the acquisition workforce as another major change. "Contracting Division employees have never been better trained or qualified than they are right now. The current acquisition workforce here at FED is more technically competent and efficient than any of their predecessors. They are now properly viewed as respected professionals rather than just clerks."
Since his arrival at FED, Kim served for more than nine district commanders and has led his unique acquisition workforce team consisting of the U.S. and local Korean contract specialists.
"After working 50 years or so, I believe many of us would have slowed down quite a bit, but not Harry Kim," said Mary Chong a procurement analyst at the Contracting Division. "He reminds me of a Korean advertisement that reminded people of how they were so eager and willing to please people, customers, and bosses when they first began working. His fine examples, dedication and loyalty, in meeting the customers’ needs are something that we all need to learn from."
Year after year, Kim’s contracting team has successfully executed multi-million dollar programs for military design and construction projects, environmental restoration program including the recent award for the consortium for the Yongsan Relocation Program.
Kim’s interaction with Korean contractors, his knowledge of Korean laws, customs, and economic conditions has contributed to the success of the district in accomplishing its mission.
"I do not regret even one minute of my association with this great organization or what I have done, but am proud to be a part of the great professionals that make up the Corps," Kim said. "I am keenly aware that my time is drawing to a close and I will one day fade away as others take my place. When that day comes, I will look back on my time with FED with pride and contentment at a job well done."