Nom Supaphol
Bio
Nom Supaphol enlisted in the Thai Army after completing the 7th grade. He left for Korea with the third batch of Thai troops in 1952 and spent ten months in Korea. While there he served as a heavy machine gunner and saw action in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. He is a proud veteran of the Korean War and expresses his deepest gratitude to the Korean people who helped take care of him while he was in Korea.
Video Clips
Knew Nothing of Korea
Nom Supaphol shares that he knew nothing of Korea when he was sent into the war as part of the third batch of troops from the Thai Army in 1952. He explains that his role there was as a heavy machine gunner.
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Experience at Pork Chop Hill
Nom Supaphol recalls being part of the second line at the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. He notes they were very near the T-Bone. While the fighting occured, he recollects one of his friends being killed while getting rations. He details the fighting at night and occasions when they brought the dead bodies back to their line the following morning. Despite all of this, he does not remember feeling scared as he understood it was just the enemy with whom they were engaged in the battle.
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Life on the Front Lines
Nom Supaphol describes the military training as the most difficult of his time in the Thai Army. He recalls homesickness setting in mainly when he felt completely exhausted. He recalls sleeping outside and receiving canned food rations and cigarettes once a day when on duty. He fondly shares that during their time off of the front lines, the Korean people often sold them food and even took him traveling around.
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/nom-supaphol#clip-3
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