Tag: Daegu

Political/Military Tags

1950 Pusan Perimeter, 8/4-9/18 1950 Inchon Landing, 9/15-9/19 1950 Seoul Recapture, 9/22-9/25 1950 Battle of Pyongyang, 10/15-17 1950 Wonsan Landing, 10/25 1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir, 11/27-12/13 1950 Hamheung Evacuation, 12/10-12/24 1951 January 4 Withdrawal, 12/31-1/7 1951 Battle of Bloody Ridge, 8/18-9/15/1951 Battle of Heartbreak Ridge, 9/13-10/15/1951 Battle of Jipyeongri, 2/13-15 1952 Battle of Old Baldy, 6/26-8/4 1952 Battle of White Horse, 10/6-15 1952 Battle of Triangle Hill, 10/14-11/25 1952 Battle of Hill Eerie, 3/21-6/21 1953 Battle of the Hook, 5/28-29 1953 Battle of Pork Chop Hill, 3/23-7/16 1953 Sieges of Outpost Harry, 6/10-18 1953 Armistice 7/27 1968 Pueblo Abduction 1968 Blue House attack 1969 EC-121 1976 Poplar Tree Ax Incident 1983 Langgoon blowup 1996 Gangneung attack 1999 Yeonpyeong naval battle 2000 South-North Summit 2002 2nd Yeonpyeong naval battle 2008 Geumgang Mountain killing 2006 1st nuclear test, 10/9 2009 2nd nuclear test, 5/25 2010 Cheonan sinking 2010 Yeonpyeong Island bombing 2013 3rd nuclear test, 2/12 2016 4th and 5th nuclear tests, 1/6 and 9/9

Geographic Tags

Anyang Aprokgang (Yalu River)Busan Byeokdong Cheonan Cheongcheongang (River)Chuncheon Daegu Daejeon Dongducheon East Sea Euijeongbu Gaesong Gangneung Geojedo Geumgang Geumgang (River)Gotori Hagalwoori Hamheung Hangang (River)Heungnam Hwacheon Hwangchoryeong Imjingang (River)Incheon Jangjin Jipyeongri Kunsan Kunwoori Langgoon Masan Nakdonggang (River)Osan Panmunjeom Pohang Pyungyang Seokdong Seoul Sudong Suwon Wolmido Wonju Wonsan Yellow Sea Yeongdeungpo Yeonpyeong Yudamri

Social Tags

Basic training Chinese Civilians Cold winters Communists Depression Fear Food Front lines G.I. Bill Home front Impressions of Korea KATUSA Letters Living conditions Message to Students Modern Korea Monsoon North Koreans Orphanage Personal Loss Physical destruction Poverty POW Pride Prior knowledge of Korea Propaganda Rest and Relaxation (R&R)South Koreans Weapons Women

Albino Robert “Al” D’Agostino

Radio Communication Defense and Guerillas

Al D'Agostino describes his role in establishing a radio relay to communicate with the soldiers. He explains the winters were very cold and they had to set up shelter on a mountain. He expresses they handled their own defense against the guerilla fighters which was an extremely difficult job.

Ali Dagbagli

The Pains of War

Ali Dagbagli describes the poor conditions of the Korean people. He recalls how the kids would run through the streets begging for food and cigarettes for their families. He remembers witnessing abject poverty as he traveled across Korea.

Amitava Banerjee

Service in Korea

Asoke Banerjee was a medical officer in Korea from 1950-1953. He used to look after the ADS, the advanced dressing station attached to many of the battalions on the front lines. Amitava shares some correspondence his father wrote. His father recalls Korea being very cold, especially as they moved towards Pyongyang. Once the Chinese began their advance, his father's unit moved south towards Seoul. His father was working in a large hospital associated with the United States MASH hospitals.

Andrew Freeman Dunlap

Wounded in Korea

Andrew Freeman Dunlap recounts being wounded in battle while serving in the Pusan Perimeter in 1950. His troop had fought North Koreans all night on September 1st. Around 5:30 AM, a North Korean machine gun struck him. He vividly describes his arduous recovery after being shot five times. Lying on the battlefield bleeding for several hours, he was eventually found in a foxhole.

Andrew V. “Buddy” Blair

Cold Weather and Living Conditions

Andrew V. "Buddy" Blair describes how shocking the cold air of Korea was to him. He shares that on one particular occasion, they were forced to spend the night in a foxhole, and their shelter half froze to the ground. He adds that living conditions for his unit mainly consisted of tents with wooden floors and potbellied stoves to keep warm during the cold months.

Brian Kanof

Running a Petroleum Pipeline

Brian Kanof explains his role in leading a specialist group in the running of the oil pipeline which was built, maintained, and manned by the US Army. He shares this South-to-North pipeline helped supply petroleum to Seoul. He describes his role in operations and his battalion's interactions with the local South Korean people through cooking a meal to rival the spiciness of local cuisine.

Carl M. Jacobsen

Combat Jump

Carl Jacobsen recounts jump training in Daegu, Korea, and recalls making multiple training jumps in order to receive his wings. He offers an account of his first combat jump and details the related mission. He comments on the destruction he saw during his service.

Charles Bissett

Arrival and Encounter with North Koreans

Charles Bissett recalls his arrival in Korean during the early part of the war. He recounts arriving in Pusan and then transferring north to Daegu where they were met by North Korean soldiers and suffered casualties. He shares that he served as a wireman in communications for a period of time.

Charles Fowler

Pusan Perimeter in July

Charles Fowler describes the intense July heat at the Pusan Perimeter when he arrived in Korea. He recounts suffering severe blisters due to taking his shirt off as he attempted to cool down while digging a foxhole. He also recalls helping build the "Al Jolson Bridge" which he later helped blow up during a retreat from enemy forces.

Charles L. Hallgren

An Overcrowded Voyage

Charles Hallgren describes his journey from basic training through deployment to Korea. He recalls boarding a troop ship containing six thousand soldiers though it was only supposed to carry two thousand. He describes the congested sleeping situation aboard ship as well as the limited food availability.

When Bomb Drops Go Wrong

Charles Hallgren describes the dilemma of dealing with ammunition and explosives that were produced during World War II but sent to be used in Korea during bomb drops. He explains the task of having to diffuse weapons before they actually exploded to prevent deaths. He describes the challenges that accompanied working with B-26 bomber aircraft. He recounts how the enemy would also run wire in between mountains to take down planes which may have been how General Van Fleet's son was killed.

Back to Korea During the Vietnam War

Charles Hallgren describes being deployed to Japan in 1970 for the purpose of inspecting Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units in Korea. He explains that Korea had tactical nuclear weapons which had to be inspected in various base locations on the peninsula. He describes his impressions of seeing a modernized Korea in 1970.

Desmond M. W. Vinten

Dispatch Rider

Desmond Vinten admits he lied about his age on military documents to enlist at nineteen. He arrived in Busan in June 1951 and stayed until the Armistice was signed. Serving as a dispatch rider at the headquarters of the Forward Maintenance Area, he played a crucial role during the conflict. He remembers departing on July 27, 1953, the day the ceasefire took effect.

War Zone

Desmond Vinten describes the intense fighting in and around Seoul, noting how the front lines shifted three times, resulting in widespread destruction. Many buildings became uninhabitable, forcing citizens to evacuate. As the central hub of the country, Seoul experienced severe war zone traffic, while road conditions to Incheon, Daegu, and Yong Dung Po were so poor that the speed limit was just fifteen miles per hour. Meanwhile, the First British Commonwealth forces operated four or five miles behind the front lines.

Never Wanted to Return

Desmond Vinten confesses that he left Korea with no intention of returning. Upon arriving in 1951, he vividly recalls smelling Busan from thirty miles out at sea. The intensity of the war zone made him doubt that South Korea could ever recover to become what it is today. He reflects that the United Nations' main goal was to keep Communist forces at bay, not to focus on rebuilding South Korea.

War is Hell, Winter is Worse

Desmond Vinten recounts spending twenty-seven days in an English military prison, charged with "firing on the Queen's enemy without the Queen's permission." He explains that his sentence highlighted the dangers of engaging the Chinese, as their soldiers were skilled at retaliatory mortar fire. Beyond the enemy engagement, as a dispatch rider he faced harsh conditions, including extreme heat, cold, and dust. This experience led him to conclude that while "war is hell, winter is even worse."

Domingo B. Febre Pellicier

Landing in Incheon

Domingo Febre Pellicier describes what it was like when they landed in Incheon after a month's-long journey to Korea. He talks about climbing down rope ladders to get off the ship. He shares how they then went to the train which took them to the front lines. He remembers how cold it was when they landed. He recalls how friendly the Korean people were. He recounts he spent a very short time at the front at first because he got sick and had to go to the hospital.

Donald Duquette

First Impressions of Korea

Donald Duquette describes his first impressions of Korea arriving on a boat from Japan and his journey to join his division. He shares what he remembers about the scenery, which had not yet experienced destruction. He explains how he headed north in the cold.

Edward Redmond

Standing Up for a Good Cause with Help From Journalists

Edward Redmond recalls losing close friends during the Korean War and feeling deeply disappointed by how their bodies were hastily buried behind a building in Taegu. A reporter documented Redmond's sentiments and published them in a newspaper, drawing attention to the issue. However, the article angered a top general, who disapproved of the media leak and nearly court-martialed Redmond. This incident left him frustrated with how the situation was handled both on and off the battlefield.

Edward Wong

Heading to Korea

Edward Wong shares leaving New Jersey to head to Korea in April 1951. He remembers flying to California and then left by ship where he slept in the engine rooms. He explains he was assigned to the communications center in Busan in May of 1951, where he answered telephones and replied back. Later, he reports he was transferred to Daegu to work with the Air Force Engineering Battalion to drive trucks.

Cold Winter Driving a Truck

Edward Wong reports everything changed with his new assignment in Korea. He says instead of serving in his specialty of communications, he was driving trucks to repair the air field at Daegu. He says twelve men spent evenings huddled around a small stove inside a tent and while many got frostbite he was lucky and did not. He reports his primary duty was to drive trucks carrying asphalt, dirt, cement, and other repair materials.

Fidel Diaz

Land Mine - Almost Pronounced Dead

Fidel Diaz shares when he traveling on foot when his South Korean partner stepped on a land mine, killing the other soldier and seriously injuring his own legs. He indicates the land mine completely shredded his legs and shrapnel entered many other parts of his body. He notes one large piece was lodged in his Bible, likely saving his life.

Only Seventeen

As a seventeen year old boy, Fidel Diaz says he really did not have any other experiences to draw upon and was really unsure of what he was doing. He describes firing on a friendly tank as the unit headed down to Taegu. He shares a woman and her child were interrogated by American soldiers, but as soon as they turned she took out a machine gun and fired on the soldiers but was herself killed.

Homer M. Garza

Arriving in Korea

Homer M. Garza talks about his first combat experience in Korea, seeing the results of the massacre at Nogeun-ri. He also describes their retreat south to set up the Pusan Perimeter.

Jack Pettipas

Serving as a Testing and Classification Specialist in Taegu

Jack Pettipas offers a detailed account of his duties as a Testing and Classification Specialist stationed in Taegu. He shares his duties included testing Air Force personnel all across the region for upgrades in their ranks as well as jobs and notes he would assign them to posts across the globe. He explains that although he spent much of his time in Taegu, he also flew to remote locations throughout Korea to test Air Force personnel stationed there.

Teaching English at the English Language Institute at Taegu

Jack Pettipas remembers being solicited by Colonel Orlando Stevenson, who established the English Language Institute at Taegu, to spend some of his off-duty time teaching conversational English to mostly Korean youth. He notes that some of these students would spend half of their day just getting to the site to learn English. He explains the importance of breaking the "ugly American" stereotype that was dominant at the time through working with the young people.

Jack Spahr

Traveling Overseas Near the End of the War

Jack Spahr details his journey overseas to serve in the Korean War. He describes his duties as a young serviceman in the Air Force nearing the end of the conflict. He shares that he served as a clerk in Daegu, assisting in keeping track of personnel while administering payroll and tests among other duties.

James “Jim” Cawyer

I'd Rather Be in Seoul

James "Jim" Cawyer reminisces about some of the activities he enjoyed while stationed in Seoul. He recalls seeing movies on occasion, playing pool, and playing dime poker. He describes why he felt there were better living quarters for soldiers stationed in Seoul, than for those stationed in Daegu.

James C. Delong

Contact with the Enemy

James C. Delong describes the activities of the 31st Infantry Regiment from Inchon to Suwon including contact with the enemy. He explains that he landed in Inchon the day after the Inchon Landing. He goes on to explain there was little resistance on the way to Suwon because the North Koreans were trying to evade them, abandoning their tanks and everything along the way.

James Creswell

South Korean Soldiers "Bugging Out"

James Creswell describes how he went up to the front line several times to see how the South Koreans were fighting due to having helped train them. He shares that two other men along with him would communicate via walkie-talkie on the status of the line. He recalls that the South Korean soldiers, when scared, would leave the British and American soldiers in the middle of the night without warning. He refers to this as "bugging out" and adds that it left the British and American soldiers vulnerable to attack by the Chinese.

James Rominger

Korean House Boys

James Rominger talks about the duties of the Korean house boys who took care of all the general housekeeping needs of the soldiers. The house boys washed clothes, cleaned shoes and kept the general area clean in the foxholes and the bunkers in exchange for food and clothing. James Rominger shares why the teenage boy was unable to even return home.

We were very unprepared for WAR.

James Rominger believes the North Koreans were winning the war because the American soldiers were very unprepared. There was little food and their boots were rotten. He shares how soldiers were in the North Korean territory of Kumhwa Valley working hard to gain stabilization in an area that had been completely destroyed.

Jesus L. Balaoro

Koreans Happy to See Filippinos

Jesus Balaoro arrived in Korea and the Korean people were happy to see the Filipinos. They were happy the Filipinos were trying to save them. He noted there were actually a few villages that were not destroyed by the war yet.

John Blankenship

Targets of Opportunity

John Blankenship participated in night time bombing raids to go after "targets of opportunity." There are differences in capability between the A26 which was piloted by John Blankenship, and the Soviet-built MIGS that were being used by the North Korean pilots. John Blankenship's A26 flew only at night because the Korean MIGS didn't fly at night, so it kept his A26 safe.

Night Missions with Napalm

John Blankenship knew that he was always in danger and a few of his friends were shot down. He flew every night and ended up flying 87 missions in about 1 year. The A26 held 14 gun, 4-6 bombs, and napalm. When enemy convoys stopped and were trapped, John Blankenship dropped napalm on North Korean troops.

John J. Baker

Vivid Memories of Murdered Civilians

John J. Baker details movement from east of Taegu to a place called Ulsan. He recollects moving through the region with his company commander when they encountered the National Police and the Korean Army on both sides of the road. He recounts how the commander explained that these people were South Korean Communists. He notes that much of his unit had been wiped out in Taejan leaving only one hundred seventy-nine left in the unit and how they returned to Taegu and onto Kumchon with the 19th and 21st Infantry. He describes how when they arrived, they encountered a gory scene along the roadside.

John Y. Lee

Becoming an Interpreter

John Y. Lee speaks about how he become a military interpreter in the Korean Army. As he was fleeing south by foot, he recalls seeing a recruiting sign in Daegu and deciding to apply. He explains that he took an an exam, was selected, and was immediately given the rank of Lieutenant.

Keith G. Hall

"Smashed to Bits"

Keith G. Hall describes the differences between Korea in 1950 and Korea in 2010 when he returned. He describes poor conditions in the villages, with villagers farming rice paddies with primitive wooden plows. Seoul and Daegu had been "smashed to bits."

Kenneth D. Cox

A Unique Meeting in Hawaii

Kenneth Cox shares a story of meeting a Korean waitress in Hawaii years after his service in Korea. He recounts that she lived near the hospital the 44th Engineer Battalion built near Teagu. He recalls exchanging a few memories and catching up on its present state.

Kenneth Gordon

Impressions of Korea

Kenneth Gordon recounts landing in Busan before making his way to Daegu where his musical career in Korea began. He recalls the terribly rough trip from Seattle to Tokyo on board the Colonel Black where so many men, including himself, were sea sick. He details the conditions of Busan when he arrived and remarks on the incredible changes made when he returned in 1965 with Leonard Bernstein.

L. Timothy Whitmore

Strange Assignments in Post War Korea

L.T. Whitmore talks about some one of the jobs he was assigned (food inspection) after his arrival at K-2 Airbase (Daegu) in 1954.

Treating Disease at K-2 Airbase

L.T. Whitmore describes his job as a lab technician at K-2 Airbase just after the armistice, treating airmen and soldiers afflicted with venereal diseases.

What Could I Do?

L.T. Whitmore recalls some of his most vivid memories of his time in Korea, describing refugees and how they lived and caring for Koreans in hospitals.

Living Conditions at K-2 Airbase

L.T. Whitmore describes the living conditions at K-2 Airbase (Daegu) in Korea in 1954.

Lawrence A. Bacon

Trying to avoid going to Korea

Lawrence Bacon explains that he joined the Air Force in 1950 in order to avoid the draft. He explains that he was first sent to Texas for training and then to Alabama. In June 1951, he was sent to Japan in preparation of then going to Daegu to fight in the Korean War.

Lewis Ebert

An Accident at K-2

Lewis Ebert vividly recalls a dangerous incident during his time at K-2 Air Base. While on duty, a rocket accidentally fired and struck a nearby parked tractor trailer. The explosion happened alarmingly close to where he stood. Fortunately, he escaped without injury. This near-miss became one of the most unforgettable moments of his service.

Preparing For and Entering the Korean War

Lewis Ebert describes his journey to Korea following the outbreak of the war in June 1950. He began by traveling to San Francisco to prepare for deployment, then arrived in Japan by mid-July. In September, he boarded a train to southern Japan before flying into Taegu, South Korea, on September 16, just a day after the Incheon Landing. This marked the start of his active service.

F80 Ammunition Supplying and Documenting History Through Letter Writing

Lewis Ebert arrived in Korea with three squadrons of F-80 jets. He was assigned to the base’s ammunition supply section, managing ammunition reports and replenishing .50 caliber machine gun bullets each night. In his letters home, he often mentioned the vast amount of ammunition used daily. His mother and sister saved all these letters, which he sent twice a month, providing him a reminder of the intense demands of the war.

The Fierce Drive From the Chinese in November 1950

During Thanksgiving in November 1950, Lewis Ebert recalls the Chinese entering the Korean War and pushing troops south into Seoul. By January 1951, his unit was ordered to evacuate the Taegu Air Base, but he notes he volunteered to stay behind with nine other airmen. After United Nations forces retook Seoul, he received a new assignment. He was sent to Pusan to serve as a liaison at a large gas depot. This new role placed him in a critical position supporting the ongoing war effort.

Marshall E. Davis

What contributions did KMAG have on the Korean War and after?

Korea Military Advisory Group was established post WWII in 1946 (Russia/US Split Korea) as a Korean defense force as a part of the Armys 40th Infantry Division which acted as a police force divided into 8 Korea Constabulary Regiments (for the 8 provinces there). It was originally PMAG (Provisional Military Advisory Group), until the war broke out it became the KMAG 8668th Army Unit commanded by Brigadier General Francis W Farrell which would later be renamed the 8202nd Army Unit. MOST IMPORTANT: The Army helped the Korean people established a police force after the Japanese withdrew, then once the war broke out the Army would then train the "police officers" to become soldiers of war in the Korean Army.

Former POWs sabotaging their generators

The location of their headquarters was near a fence line that once held POWS that had integrated with the locals but some became apart of a guerrilla style action that would sabotage their generators and effect the transmitter that was far away from the headquarters. When the transmitters would go out it was usually because of the generators. Marshall was assigned night duty and was always on the lookout for possible saboteurs affecting their generators.

Awesome Doesn't Describe What Korea is Like Today!

Marshall informed veterans who plan to revisit Korea that the word Awesome can't begin to describe the amazing changes that have occurred since its reconstruction over the years. (Marshall returned in 1996 for business reasons and the company took him back to where he was originally located). He said Daegu has completely transformed as a high rise city with over 3 million people compared to the several thousand that lived there when he was there and when he arrived at Kimpo Airport he could see the bridges suspended over the Han River.

Mauro C. Lino

The Front Line Experience

Mauro C. Lino describes his experience on the front lines of Korea. He recalls being sent to the front at one point with instructions to use only grenades and to withhold firing the automatic rifle until the enemy was upon them. He shares that many were killed, though he does not how many fell from his hand for there were so many in the battle.

Mehmet Cemil Yasar

First Experiences of War

Mehmet Cemil Yasar recalls the desolate scenes he encountered upon arriving in Korea. He describes Busan as a ghost town, with bullet-riddled buildings and a haunting sight of only one person who had frozen to death. The war, he notes, brought widespread hunger, misery, disease, and death. He highlights the constant danger, with numerous traps set by the enemy adding to the perilous conditions.

Narce Caliva

Korea then and now

Narce Caliva compares his memories of his time in Korea during the war to his return to Korea as Assistant Director of the Red Cross in the Far East. He recalls being a young man "on a great adventure," despite the devastated Korean nation. He describes returning to Korea eighteen years later and marveling at the remarkable changes that had taken place in the interim period.

Nina Movin

Building a Hospital

Nina Movin recounts her father's medical support in Daegu. In August of 1951, when the hospital ship he was working for made its first departure, Rasmus Movin decided to stay in Daegu to support the soldiers and civilians. He worked with the United Nations to set up a hospital in a school building in Daegu.

Paul Hummel

Protecting Bombers

Paul Hummel had many responsibilities as a pilot during the Korean War. Some of these responsibilities included protecting bombers while on missions and dog fighting just like old World War I air battles. A variety of plane tactics used, as well as new technology behind the MiG-15 fighter planes.

Not Like the Movies

Paul Hummel was assigned a mission to bomb North Korean and Chinese troops on the ground. He saw the troops, tanks, and weapons, so he started attacking not knowing exactly which enemy troop he hit. Machine guns were attached to Paul Hummel's plane, so he could get a betters shot from the air. He believes that the real air battle was different than movie depictions of the Korean War air warfare that took place.

Ralph Howard

Paratrooper Battles During Korean War

Ralph Howard recalls traveling all over Korea. He recounts how he performed airdrops into assorted battles including the Battle of Sukchon-Sunchon, the Battle of Triangle Hill, and the assault of Kot'o-ri. He described a mission where he was supposed to stop an enemy train carrying Allied POWs; however, the enemy had killed all but twenty-six POWs right outside the train.

Chute-Packing Races, C-Rations, and Poor Civilians

Ralph Howard discusses how he was scared until his parachute opened. He recalls not having to pack his own chute but adds that during training, they would compete to see who could pack his chute first. He remembers how General Westmoreland tried to ensure all men on the front lines received a hot meal once a day. He recalls enjoying beanie weenies, sausage, and hamburger from C-Rations. He notes that during his downtime, he would share some of his rations with Korean civilians as they were very poor.

Raymond L. Ayon

Caring for Wounded Enemy POWs

Raymond L. Ayon shares how, during his time in Daegu, he was responsible for the care of wounded enemy POWs for a period of two years. He recalls the conditions of one particular POW who required an inoculation but was afraid of the syringe. As a corpsman, his duty was to provide the necessary treatment and release them once they were fit to go. He remembers a moment when General McArthur passed by in a motorcade while they were waiting to cross the Han River on a pontoon, which was an exciting experience for most of the men. He briefly discusses the numerous medals he was awarded due to his military service.

Raymond L. Fish

Saved by a Canteen

Raymond L. Fish was sent on one-week detachments to provide aid to Chinese prisoners of war who were under supervision by the United Nations. He shares how a little while later, he was injured while running from the Chinese. He shares the story of how his canteen protected him from what could have been a fatal wound during the war.

Richard Faron

Soldier Pay

Mr. Faron describes his pay during the war. He explains how the money was used during the Korean War. He talks about how soldiers supported their families back in the U.S. He shares about the task of getting the money to pay soldiers.

Richard Higa

"Friendly Fire, They Call It"

Richard Higa describes an incident when allied Australian warplanes accidentally strafed his unit's position. This misidentified them as North Korean forces. During the incident, he was wounded by shrapnel.

Korean Refugee Retreat, 1950

Richard Higa describes witnessing streams of Korean Refugees fleeing south in late 1950. He talks about the difficult terrain and conditions that the refugees encountered that led to many of them dying during the journey.

Richard Preston Vaughn

Picking Up The Dead After A Battle

Richard Vaughn talks about his memories of picking up dead enemy soldiers after a battle near where he was stationed.

Robert Kam Chong Young

Injured After Capturing POWs

Robert Kam Chong Young shares his experiences after participating in the Incheon Landing. He recalls suffering from Hepatitis which caused his hospitalization at the 35th Army Hospital in Japan. He remembers being scared when he captured three Chinese prisoners of war (POWs) prior to being injured by Chinese mortar fire.

Arrival to Korea and Incheon Landing

Robert Kam Chong Young recalls he was still training at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, when the Korean War broke out. Unable to finish his training because of need of soldiers in Korea, he shares his experience of arriving in Korea. He recounts taking part in the Incheon Landing as an acting squad leader.

Robert Mount

Inspecting Dead Corpses

After the Inchon invasion, Robert Mount's company headed North to river just beyond Daegu where there was a flat bridge. His platoon leader left Robert Mount and a detail there to defend the bridge. Only eighteen years old, he spotted a dozen apparently dead North Korean soldiers across the bridge and went over to inspect the corpses.

North Korean Refugees

On the road to Seoul, Robert Mount describes the devastated landscape and the streams of refugees that he witnessed heading south. He describes how they were carrying as much as they could on their backs, very disheveled and sick-looking. He shows a picture of a refugee in North Korea; he does not remember who took it.

Robert P. Gruber

My Buddy Went Missing

Robert Gruber shares why he enlisted in the United States Air Force. Prior to his good buddy joining the United States Army, he does not recall learning much about Korea. He reveals how his friend going missing in action in Korea led him to enlist in the United States Air Force. He notes he was stationed in Korea for six months before the war ended, and his buddy was repatriated after the armistice.

Life in Daegu

Robert Gruber describes experiences he had while stationed at the Fifth Air Force Headquarters in Daegu. While serving at the headquarters, he explains they worked seven days a week, scheduling air support for the frontline. He recalls the streets of Daegu with streams of water running through them and people cleaning their laundry. He remembers living in quonset huts and having a house boy who would help clean.

Close Calls

Robert Gruber describes a few instances in which he was concerned about his safety. While walking home one night, he remembers a Korean soldier all of a sudden yelling at him. He recalls fearing he would not make it home alive. Eventually, he explains the soldier understood he was a GI and he was escorted home. Even though it ended well, he shares how he never went back that way alone again. He provides an account of another close call involving bed check Charlie. He describes a bomb landing on the compound and some soldiers feeling more exposed to danger than the officers.

Rodney Stock

War Wounds and Train Attacks

Rodney F. Stock explains that North Koreans left farms in Yeongdeungpo unmolested since North Korea relied heavily on rice harvests. He notes that the U.S. soldiers were not so fortunate. He remembers a sniper shoting at him while he repaired a wire up a telephone pole. He recounts how the bullet missed him, but wood splinters embedded in his leg. He resents not being listed as wounded in combat since he was not hit by the actual bullet. He recalls other dangerous experiences which included the armored train ride from Yeongdeungpo to Pusan (Busan), with enemy attacks on the train each time they passed through Tegu (Daegu).

Roland Fredh

Korean Soccer Club

Roland Fredh describes his leisure time in Korea. He played soccer with fellow Swedish members. The team traveled, located in Busan, traveled to Seoul and Daegu to play various teams. They beat an English team. But, they lost to a Korean team.

Ross Pittman

Revisiting Korea and Reflections

Ross Pittman shares his thoughts on Korea after his post-war visit. He acknowledges that the developments made in South Korea since the war are incredible. He expresses his pride and good feelings for having contributed to the South Korean growth. He shares his thoughts on the scenery's beauty and explains that he did not realize the terrain was so mountainous. He reflects on the importance of everyone's job during the war, by land and by sea.

Roy Cameron

Death Near Taegu and PTSD

Roy Cameron was traveling a road near Taegu and Taejon when they were ambushed. Two soldiers were killed and he had to take their bodies back to Grave Registration, so seeing those bodies has given Roy Cameron PTSD.

Seymour Bernstein

Playing for the Others

Seymour Bernstein explains how he had trained to originally be an infantryman. He and his colleague had asked to give a piano concert for the soldiers and we allowed even though there was some skepticism. He recalls getting assistance in moving a piano to the theater so that he could play. This was the start of a tour to play for many others.

Impressions of Korea

Seymour Bernstein describes what it was like to live in Korea during the war. He then explains how Korea became more modern on each subsequent trip he took back to the country after his initial encounter. However, even though it was more modern there were certain precautions that he had to take.

Ted Bacha

Remembering the Battles

Ted Bacha remembers what it was like in Daegu, Daejion, Pyongyang, Pusan, and other battles. He explains that his friends got captured, and General Dean was captured as well. He states that they were firing their weapons almost daily.

Vern P. Lanie

My Job as Company Clerk

Vern P. Lanie describes his job of company clerk and the orders that he wrote and typed for the officers serving in the war. He is very surprised when Dr. Han tells him that today Korea has the 11th largest economy in the world and has a strong democracy, although it was completely devastated 65 years ago.

Virgil Malone

Life in Daegu During the Korean War

Virgil Malone shares photos he took while stationed in Daegu, South Korea. These photos illustrate the living and working conditions of the South Koreans in Daegu area. They touch upon the economic disparity among South Koreans during the war; some lived in farmhouses, while others lived in huts.

Air Policeman

Virgil Malone attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. He was later sent to Tyndall Air Force Base for training as an Air Policeman, the Air Force's version of military police. When he was in Daegu, he shares he was attached to the 5th Division to guard the headquarters, but nothing near the front lines. He notes, later he was moved to Seoul when the headquarters moved there.

A Typical Day of an Air Policeman

Virgil Malone explains a typical day in Daegu included riding shotgun to protect the military vehicles. from guerilla warfare activity along all the roads. He shares there were three shifts each day in the two compounds surrounding 5th Headquarters which members of the Air Police took turns standing guard the best they could.

Warren Middlekauf

The Significance of the 52nd Ordnance Ammunition Company

Warren Middlekauf's ship landed in Incheon in Jan. 1953 after a long trip. After loading a train to Pusan, he dropped off supplies and traveled to Taegu. While driving his truck, filled with ammunition, Warren Middlekauf went to Osan to unload boxes of weapons to supply Yongjong.

William F. Borer

Go With Them or Die

William Borer describes the night his squad arrived at a police station and asked the police chief to contact the American Forces to pick them up. Shortly after, a South Korean Patrol, commanded by a First Lieutenant, joined his group. After questioning the police chief the South Korean Lieutenant discovered he was actually a North Korean Communist and had phoned the North Korean Army to come kill them all in the morning. After killing the "police chief," the South Korean Lieutenant said it was time to leave but the US Lieutenant said they weren't leaving until US Forces picked them up. Against orders, William left with the South Korean Patrol, leaving his squad and lieutenant behind though they soon began to follow the South Korean Patrol.