[anniversary] Sergeant Jung JiHoon’s Army discharge: One year ago today, the Rain began falling again.
— Written and compiled by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^
FOREWORD: At first, all I intended to do in this post was celebrate this joyful day for what it is—the day Jung JiHoon returned to his career and civilian life—and not dredge up bad memories. But then I got to thinking about everything Rain went through as a soldier for two years, and all of the newer fans who have no idea because they didn’t find him until after military, and I felt it necessary to say more for them and for Rain.
So, I am. ^@@^
July 10, 2013 was a day Clouds and Rain fans the world over had been waiting for—and on their knees praying for—with bated breath.
It was the day Rain walked away from the ROK, officially finished with his mandatory military duties.
(Clip source credit: SSTV / English subs: It’s Rainism World / courtesy of RAIN WORLD SUBS)
After enlisting in the Army on October 11, 2011, he emerged from one of the hardest basic training camps as a decorated private and a super soldier. He had already settled into the Infantry near the the DMZ and the North Koreans as an A.T.O when he was suddenly taken from the hard, low-key military life he chose and was transferred by DEMA to their now defunct Entertainment/PR Unit.
In addition to his daily basic soldier duties, he was worked like a government mule, performing nearly every day and weekend (from March through December 2012) and even ended up in the hospital. (In fact, the only thing that made them ease up on his brutal schedule was his indiscretion with girlfriend Kim TaeHee. Thank God for small miracles.)
He was used as a scapegoat by the military to appease the public (going hat-less was not a punishable offense until Rain did it), witch-hunted by bottom-feeders who smelled blood the Korean Media, thrown under the bus by nut-bucket netizens, and used by SBS for ratings during a military scandal he wasn’t even involved in, for no good reason other than his name.
All in all, Rain served well and faithfully, and made us proud during his 640-someodd days as a soldier (barring the 3-day violation that got him into trouble). He always did his best. He and his fellow soldiers boosted the morale of their troop mates wherever they were sent and as best they could, without fail. It was nice to see that the troops truly appreciated their efforts, whether netizens believe it or not, and that the Korean public was more forgiving than the press would have us believe.
(Rain’s Morale Train performance on 10/19/2012. Source credit: DEMA / courtesy of ratoka)
My feelings of utter relief as he walked out of that military gate can’t be described. It was hard to watch, though, because he was still at the mercy of the Media and—for a good five minutes—more vulnerable to them than ever. Because of SBS’s inflammatory celeb-soldier exposé and attempts to smear his name, his fellow soldiers couldn’t escort him out or present him with a celebratory cake like they did everyone else. His honorable discharge was ruined for no good reason other than his name.
An extremely foolish Hamban TV reporter, who has interviewed Rain several times throughout his career, angered his fellow reporters by running up on Rain to give him a flippin’ Choco Pie and beg for an interview. Really, dude? 
(Source credit: Kyunghyang TV)
(Fan cam credit: kuangkuang520bibi)
The press stupidly reported that “he jumped in his car and left without so much as a by-your-leave.” That wasn’t even close to the truth. He stopped and got out of his car twice in an attempt to greet the fans that had been waiting in the damp weather since the night before. The paparazzi thwarted him, however, by completely blocking his way to fans each time, and he had to give up before someone ended up getting hurt.
At least he was free and safely out of that hell hole, and his Clouds from all over the world were there to stand up for him and let him know it was okay.
July 10, 2013. After all was said and done, it was a joyful day and we collectively exhaled.
I know I’ll never forget it. No chance of that.
Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org
Korean and World Clouds were in Tha House, including the USA! (Clip source credit: MBC / courtesy of ratoka)
The news of Rain’s completion of his military duties here locally, in our biggest newspaper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution online. (Caps credit: Stephe @Cloud USA)
Cloud USA’s welcome home to Rain from fans in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, the Faroe Islands, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Venezuela, and the US. (Edit and Credit: Naoko [harudoful] @Cloud USA / CloudUSAChannel @YT.)
Cloud USA 
Wow its been a year already? Golly time passes by toooooo quickly! Happy he’s out and enjoying life again.
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Keep your Head up
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After all RainRain been through, it just proves the innocent and pure at heart prevailed
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OMG. What a day. I will never forget it.
One the one hand, I was elated that Rain’s military service was finally over and excited that he would finally be back onstage, where he loves to be. On the other, however, as the press begin to build and then pushed his loyal Clouds out of their way, so that they could take their “shots,” I became livid.
Vultures. Pariah. What should have been a celebration was a circus all because of them. And when I saw him try to get to his Clouds…sigh.
I’m SO bloody glad that’s over.
Terri :-}
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Thanks Stephe for the article. I can’t believe it has been a year already. I remember holding my breath when he came out and when he got in the car I was thinking….go…go now! LOL! I was afraid they’d find some idiotic reason to drag him back in there. He tried so valiantly to acknowledge and thank the fans for being there. Being mobbed by the paparazzi he was even putting his own safety at risk to do so. Like Bialamode, I’m still angry, too, and I realize I only know the tinniest bit about what he endured and how he was treated. Yep, so glad he’s done and back where he belongs….big ‘ole smile on my face.
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You’re welcome! I was scared stupid that they were going to railroad him back in there too, until I could finally see that the military was determined to protect him, keep him discharged, and dispel any rumors after he got out. I was like, well that’s the least you can do for making his life hell. Why couldn’t you have just left him alone, in the Infantry? Gah!
Anyways, water under the bridge. And may it stay there! LOL 😉
Stephe ^@@^
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Thanks for the revisit sis. We Clouds were right along on that emotional roller coaster with Bi. Can you say….*finger cramps from tying yellow ribbons*…..SMILES! I don’t want to dredge up bad memories either, but I gotta say some things still piss me off and it didn’t even happen to me. LOL! Just glad Honey Love is back where he belongs…..entertaining us….Center stage.
*SMILES*……………………………………….
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You’re welcome, sis!^^ I trust that when that yellow ribbon avalanche came sliding in there from countries around the world, the POINT WAS MADE. hahaha
I think I’ll always be pissed off about it, ugh. I barely scratched the surface with this post.
Stephe ^@@^
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That’s the one thing I wish we could’ve seen. All those ribbons in one place. Oh and like you I Know the point was made. Heck, we might have even “scared” the military a little bit. They were probably like shit we better discharge him SOON….these Clouds are coming for us. LOL!
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BiA,
I’d have loved to have seen all of those yellow ribbons together in one big pile myself. What a sight that would have been.
I don’t imagine that there was even time to open all of them, as much as we would have liked him to. He would have had to have an army of openers himself. LOL. Still, the flood of letters pouring in should have gotten the message to the powers that be adequately enough, don’t you think? 😛
Terri :-}
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Yes, I do………..”big brother/sister Clouds” got our eyes on you! Is the message I Hope they got loud and clear.
*SMILES*……………………..
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Thank you dear Stephe for this article! I’ve been Rain’s fan for a year and 2 months so I didn’t know all that about his MS years. Thanks God this hell is in the past already
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You’re welcome, my pleasure!^^
We kept a complete history of his MS here on the blog and up to December 2012 on our Pinterest.
Stephe ^@@^
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Merci !!
Moi aussi je n’oublierai jamais le jour de sa sortie !!
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English translation:
“I also will never forget the day of his release!!”
Terri :-}
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De rien, Lyly! Je suis heureux qu’il soit de nouveau civile. *whew* 🙂
Stephe ^@@^
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Thanks! Nice to see this pictures of Bi Rain. I love this guy soooo much~!!!!
He makes me happy 🙂
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We do too, Akiko! Thanks for commenting!
Terri :-}
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