Korean War Legacy Project

Alice Allen

Bio

Alice Allen is the wife of Jack Allen, a Korean War veteran.  She met her husband in tenth grade, and they married in the Summer of 1950 when he returned home from his time away with the military since he enlisted in 1948.  While Jack was off at war, Alice was on the home front attending college for three years at Cal Engine to become a teacher.  She then taught for two years before Mr. Allen returned from war.  Alice and Jack kept in touch throughout his deployment in the Korean War through letters.  Alice feels that Korean War Legacy Project will allow younger generations to learn about the Korean War.

Video Clips

Thoughts on the Korean War Legacy Project

Alice Allen understands the importance of the Korean War Legacy Project and its potential impact on future generations. Her husband, Jack Allen, did not really discuss his Korean War experiences before the interview, and now he speaks freely about it. Alice Allen believes
that it is important that younger generation learn about the Korean War and the experiences of the veterans.

Tags: Civilians,Home front,Impressions of Korea,Message to Students,Prior knowledge of Korea,Women

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College, Letters, and Love

Alice Allen was going to college when her husband, Jack Allen, joined the military in 1948. During his time away, she earned a degree in education, and began teaching which helped pass the time while he was away. On leave in 1950, Alice Allen was married to Jack Allen and the two stayed in contact through letters while he participated in the Korean War from 1950 through 1951.

Tags: Civilians,Home front,Letters,Living conditions,Pride,Women

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Injuries During War Never Tarnished Their Love

Alice Allen was on the home front when her husband, Jack Allen, was injured during the Korean War. Thankfully, he was injured on his right arm and not his left because he is left-handed. Even with an arm and leg injury, Alice Allen maintained her love for her Korean War Veteran.

Tags: Civilians,Fear,Home front,Living conditions,Personal Loss,Pride,Women

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Video Transcript

0:02

alright so I see the resemblance

0:04

Laughter

0:08

this is the wife of Mr. Allen, so could you introduce yourself

0:11

I am Alice Allen

0:16

from what you’ve told us you knew each other

0:19

before Mr. Allen shipped off to the war

0:23

we went to high school together okay

0:27

How long were you together before he left

0:32

we met in 10th grade and we graduated from high school together in

0:36

1947 and I went to Cal engine

0:40

and i taught school, while he was there

0:44

how was it when he left, what was that like

0:48

did you give him a hard time no I remember we brought him to Syracuse

0:51

he left from here, was it hard to say goodbye to him

0:55

yeah

1:00

what did you know about the Korean War or anything

1:03

did you know kind what he was getting into or

1:07

I guess he shipped off to the Mediterranean before the war, yeah I went into the military in 1948

1:12

and the Korean war didn’t start until 1950

1:16

so we were extended for one year

1:19

you guys were able to keep in touch

1:23

throughout through letters yes we used to write, you were home a few times

1:27

so he told you

1:30

I guess about his yes easy action in the Mediterranean

1:37

and then he switched to Korea

1:40

and was that kinda scary for you, probably

1:48

how was teaching for you while he was over there what was that like, it kept her busy

1:52

I went to college

1:55

three years before I was teaching

1:59

so I was teaching two years before he came home

2:05

and so what was it like when he finally came home

2:08

great

2:12

it was great just to have him home, he came home in the spring and we get married in the summer

2:16

so you

2:20

didn’t waste any time, you didn’t want to let him go again, right

2:24

was it scary when he came back with his

2:28

arm and his leg

2:33

you probably didn’t get home for quite awhile, that’s true, that’s true

2:41

the only thing I had was the first three fingers I found out that there is a different

2:46

nerve that controls these and another one that controls these

2:50

you wouldn’t know this if you didn’t know that I’d had

2:54

an operation on it

2:58

I’m left-handed anyhow so that made it easier

3:05

how do you feel about this project we’re

3:08

inviting the veterans here to tell

3:12

us about their experiences and of course we’d like to hear about the experiences of their family

3:16

and how it impacted you and

3:19

everybody and just let future generations

3:23

know about the Korean War

3:27

so, what are your feelings about this whole project

3:33

and how you are now participating in it

3:37

I think it’s good, why

3:41

well different ones, the young ones will know more about it

3:45

young soldiers or

3:49

our own children and

3:55

throughout the years did you have did

3:59

your husband

4:02

he said that it took a little while for him to open up and express those experiences, were you a part of that, how was it like when he started to open up

4:08

I guess I didn’t know

4:12

that much either, do you remember when I called

4:15

yes we were already in Syracuse weren’t we

4:20

we first lived in Binghamton

4:23

so it was after we came up here that you called

4:30

I was in the paper when they had in there about the Chosin few

4:33

or something

4:40

it was an interesting phone call, wasn’t it

4:45

so what was it like to hear about his experiences and learn because I guess you

4:48

guess you didn’t really know, what was that like to learn about that, kinda scary, or

4:53

it was good to hear about it

4:58

did it seem like he wanted to discuss it, or was

5:03

kind of reluctant to share his feelings

5:06

I guess he finally did, right

5:09

I can remember it was a long while I was home before we started talking about it

5:13

yeah

5:18

is there anything that you can tell us, I guess about him coming back

5:23

how that impacted your relationship, and your family’s relationship

5:27

did his experience change anything for the better or the worse

5:36

I don’t think so, I guess we were older

5:42

hat’s about all

5:45

We lived in a small town and coming home was an

5:51

experience, wasn’t it

6:04

so what’s it like know

6:07

that he’s talking about it

6:11

she’s gonna say I talk too much about it

6:15

he talks too much about it now

6:19

thank you for

6:23

Coming up here and talking to us, thank you

Photos

Jack and Alice Allen's Wedding

Jack and Alice Allen provided a copy of their wedding photo. They were married in the summer of 1950 before Jack Allen went to Korea to fight in the Korean War as part of the United Nations supporting South Korea.

Jack and Alice Allen's Wedding