Albert Frisina
Bio
On May 18, 1933, Albert Frisina was born in Allegany, New York. He graduated from Allegany Central High School in 1951. He remembers only learning about Korea when, during his senior year, his good friend Clifford Finn was sent to Korea and killed in battle. After school, he went to Buffalo State Technical Institute to learn about electricity and electronics, earning a deferment from military service. A few years later he was drafted in 1954 and attended boot camp training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Afterward, he went to Fort Devins in Massachusetts to train with the Army Security Agency and learned to detect radar transmissions. He arrived in Korea in August of 1955, shortly after being married. He was stationed in Uijeongbu, South Korea, until he left in August of 1956.
Video Clips
What Did You Do in Korea?
Albert Frisina speaks about his training in the Army Security Agency and the work he did. He shares he was a radar transmission locator and was stationed in Uijeongbu, South Korea. He and his unit would listen to radar transmissions in an attempt to locate and listen to the North Koreans. He recalls how they were not always sure about what was being said, but they were able to identify the transmission location through a method of triangulation.
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Life in Korea
Albert Frisina recalls life in Uijeongbu. He remembers they would work six-hour shifts. He recalls eating and drinking very well and, sadly, remembers seeing Korean civilians digging through his company's garbage. He shares how he invited the Koreans to eat their leftovers, rather than having to dig through garbage. Despite the nice treatment he received, he remembers returning to the United States and kissing the ground.
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Korean Now
Albert Frisina notes how free and prosperous South Korea is today. He expresses how proud he is that he was able to contribute to its success. He cites the successes that South Korea is witnessing now as reasons why the United States helped fight for what is now South Korea. He remembers witnessing Japan during leave time known as Rest and Relaxation and seeing how much it had progressed. He remembers hoping Korea would also progress. He expresses his pleasure in knowing that South Korea is now the tenth largest economy in the world.
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/albert-frisina#clip-3
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