Robert F. Wright
Bio
Robert Floyd Wright was born on March 18, 1932, in Minersville, Utah. He graduated from Milford High School in 1951 and enlisted in the United States Army the following year, after two deferments for farming. He was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, for sixteen weeks of basics in radar and automatic weapons. From there, he received his orders for Korea and was soon stationed at Kimpo Air Force Base as a dispatcher in the motor pool. His duties soon expanded, and he was recognized for his abilities, landing a job on the inspection team. He encountered “Bed Check Charlie,” North Korean aircraft that could fly under the radar, and described how the enemy fire would rip into their Quonset hut, forcing them to take cover in the sandbags. He returned home after having served eighteen months defending a country and its people who needed help. The prosperity he has seen develop in South Korea has pleased him greatly.
Video Clips
Bed Check Charlie
Robert Wright shares the story of being bombed by Bed Check Charlie, North Korean aircraft that could fly undetected by radar, in the middle of the night throughout his time in Korea. He describes his sleeping quarters, a Quonset Hut, as being covered with a canvas top and sand bags stacked six feet high. He notes how shrapnel would rip the top of their huts. He recalls how the United States Air Force quickly responded and put a stop to the night raids.
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The Wounded Train
Robert Wright recalls the worst part of his experience in Korea as being one of his first moments there. He remembers passing by a train carrying the wounded from the front lines as he was headed in the direction from which they were coming and how uneasy it made him feel. He remembers a seventeen-year-old soldier crying and wanting to go home.
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-f-wright-2#clip-2
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The Success of South Korea
Robert Wright describes how proud he is to see what Korea has become today. He shares they have seemingly taken over their part of the world due to the economic prosperity. He imagines how North Koreans must feel regarding the success of South Korea, considering how their living conditions have remained basically unchanged since the war.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSwp1ajv-6o&start=811&end=865
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-f-wright-2#clip-3
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