America’s Largest Military Bases Around the World

Camp Humphreys, or U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, is located 40 miles south of Seoul, South Korea. It was created by the Japanese in 1919 during their occupation of the Korean Peninsula. After World War II, the Americans took over the base, and it was used by the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. The United States is in the process of consolidating military presence in Korea into two hubs, the largest of which will be Camp Humphreys, tripling in size to 36,000 soldiers, family members, and civilians.

Camp Red Cloud, where U.S. troops had been deployed since the Korean War, closed in October 2018 as part of an ongoing military base consolidation program in South Korea. The camp has been targeted for closure since a 2004 agreement to trim the American military presence north of the Han River. Most American military personnel are stationed around the South Korean capital of Seoul and the heavily fortified bases near the Demilitarized Zone. The relocation was supposed to be completed by 2008 but was delayed because of construction issues at Camp Humphreys, which is increasing in size. Camp Red Cloud was named after Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Mitchell Red Cloud Jr.

Kunsan Air Base is one of several U.S. Air Force installations in South Korea and home of the 8th Fighter Wing. It is located 150 miles south of Seoul on the western side of the peninsula. The Japanese built the base in 1938, and the base became strategically important during the Korean War for missions against Chinese and North Korean positions.

The facility known as CFAY, for Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, is the largest and most important U.S. naval base in Asia — it is home of the 7th Fleet. The base is located 30 miles southwest of Tokyo and at the mouth of Tokyo Bay. It was built by Japan in 1871 to accommodate its growing trade in the 19th century, and the base is among the oldest of the overseas facilities of the United States.

Camp Casey sits in between the South Korean capital of Seoul and the Demilitarized Zone. Elements of the 2nd Infantry Division and the 210th Field Artillery Brigade are stationed at Camp Casey, which houses about 6,300 military personnel and about 2,500 civilians. At Camp Casey, U.S. and South Korean forces are integrated, a process that is occurring at other bases in South Korea.