Photo By Cpl. Jonathan Beauchamp | U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alexandria Martinez, left, a patrolman with Security Forces,...... read more read more
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CAMP MUJUK, South Korea – The field grew silent as the pitcher raised his leg to wind up for the next pitch. The ball left the pitcher's hand and flew toward the catche, into the strike zone. However, a crack rang out in a split second as the opposing team’s base runner sprinted from third base to home plate. As the ball flew, the onlookers cheered when the man slid to the home plate, scoring a go-ahead run to take the lead. The front of the runner’s jersey read “Mujuk.”
U.S. and Republic of Korea Marines, on their respective unofficial baseball teams, congratulated each other after the game with bows of respect and shared smiles. When they aren't carrying out their usual separate duties, these service members join for collective activities that show the strength of our nation's bonds.
“Baseball is a sport that acts like a petri dish full of character growth,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Gregory Uvila, a chaplain with Camp Mujuk. “When the Camp Mujuk baseball team walks onto the field, each player understands that there will be a winner and a loser in a game. Experiencing this teaches the team how to succeed, fail, and take steps towards improvement.”
Uvila said that baseball helped him learn that making mistakes is fine as long as good sportsmanship is maintained. Baseball is a model for how to fail without letting those events break him down.
Each team that participated in the game played under a respective league, but in the Pohong region of South Korea, the Camp Mujuk team was the only team representing a non-Korean entity. Although it was acknowledged as a team affiliated with the Marine Corps, members were not limited to any specific branch of service, and the team consisted of a diverse group of individuals, including sailors and civilians. Being a part of the Camp Mujuk baseball team offered players not only an opportunity to compete but also to foster meaningful relationships with the local community, allowing them to develop personally and professionally.
“I think playing baseball with South Korean leagues provides two relationship advantages to the Marines,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Nicholas Pascuzzi, the sergeant major of Camp Mujuk. “First, baseball allows us to integrate into the local community and better understand their customs and courtesies better. Second, it provides opportunities to build camaraderie between the players and residents.”
Pascuzzi explained that playing with the local leagues has been an opportunity of a lifetime because it allowed him to become better acquainted with the Pohong residents. He hopes other service members will continue to play during their time on base because it allows them a closer glimpse into the local culture. Pascuzzi further explained that baseball also allows teammates to have pride in South Korea and Camp Mujuk.
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 06.03.2023 06:56 |
| Story ID: | 445492 |
| Location: | POHONG, KR |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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