On or about July 13th, 1952 a large part of the Division moved to the area of Kapyong, Korea to continue training and rebuild itself. The City of Kapyong had been almost totally devastated by the war. The school had been totally destroyed by the see-saw battles that took place during the early phases of the war.

Division members, seeing children attending school in tents and using crates for desks, initiated a plan to build a permanent school. Voluntary donations were solicited from the members of the Division by means of a "Pass the Helmet" fund raising campaign conducted by the Division Chaplains.

The actual construction was performed primarily by Korean workers although the 578th Combat Engineer Battalion as well as numerous GIs also lent a hand. The original ten room school was dedicated October 18th, 1952.

It was named " The Kenneth Kaiser High School " in memory of SFC Kenneth Kaiser Jr., Company " B ", 160th Infantry Regiment. He was the first member of the 40th Infantry Division to be Killed in Action in Korea.

The school has since been greatly enlarged and renamed " The Kapyong Comprehensive High School ".

On October 16, 1952, two days prior to the dedication, the Division was ordered to relieve the US Army 25th Infantry Division, then on line, in the PAEM-IHYON-NI sector.

The 40th Division never returned to Kapyong.

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The Kapyong Comprehensive High School ( 1998 )






A portion of the School Grounds ( 1998 )






The Dedication Monument Grove ( 1998 )






" The Tower of Hope ", originally erected in 1952.






Bronze Profiles of MG Cleland and SFC Kenneth Kaiser Jr.






South face of Tower






Dedication Inscription





Left Panel:

THIS SCHOOL IS DEDICATED TO
THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
BY THE OFFICERS AND MEN
OF THE 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION UNITED STATES ARMY

Right Panel:

THE KENNETH KAISER HIGH SCHOOL
In Memory Of
SFC Kenneth Kaiser
Weapons Section Leader Company B 160th Infantry Reg't.
First Member of the Fortieth Infantry Division
Killed in Action








Posting in School Hallway ( 1998 )
MG Joseph P. Cleland and SFC Kenneth Kaiser Jr.

The 40th National Guard Division ( California ) has undergone numerous organizational changes since the Korean War. It is now a Mechanized Division. To its credit stands the fact that it still maintains contact with and, from time to time, makes financial and other contributions to The Kapyong Comprehensive High School and the student body.

As a point of information, " The Tower of Hope " at Kapyong, Republic of Korea, is NOT a War Memorial for the 40th Infantry Division. Its sole purpose is to commemorate the building of the original 10 room school, acknowledge those who provided the finances for its building and explain the reason for the name of the original school.

Any additional information regarding the school, including photographs, would be appreciated.