Korean War Legacy Project

Bill Scott

Bio

Bill Scott was one out of sixty-two students at his local high school in Oklahoma that were called to serve in the National Guards when the Korean war broke out.  Deciding to reopen Camp Polk in Louisiana, Bill Scott would complete his basic training there before he was assigned as a Squadron Leader to the 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.  Having landed near Seoul in 1952, it was only 2 days before he and his regiment were sent to the front lines where he saw action at Old Baldy, Pork Chop Hill, T-Bone, and Hasacal.  Bill Scott described the conditions on the hills he defended and the lives that were lost.  He was proud to have served a country that is so thankful for US efforts.

Video Clips

We Called Them Hoochies

Bill Scott described what it was like on many of the hills he fought and the sand bags filled with dirt and rock used to protect them from the enemy. He described digging into trenches on the hill, and his mortar squad was placed just on the other side of the hill to fire at the enemy. Bill Scott pointed to a shadow box as he's describing the shrapnel that was collected from the battlefield that was fired at them by the Chinese.

Tags: 1952 Battle of Old Baldy, 6/26-8/4,1952 Battle of Triangle Hill, 10/14-11/25,1953 Battle of Pork Chop Hill, 3/23-7/16,Chinese,Fear,Front lines,Living conditions,Personal Loss,Physical destruction

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Almost hit by the Chinese

Bill Scott described the fighting and living situations on the top of Pork Chop Hill. He recalled the area they were quartered in during their time on the hill.
Bill Scott was resting in his bed in this living quarters when it was hit and mortar barely escaped his head by inches. He said when he woke, the sound was deafening, and the area was heavily damaged. Bill Scott picked up pieces of the shell and stuck it in his pocket.

Tags: 1953 Battle of Pork Chop Hill, 3/23-7/16,Chinese,Fear,Front lines,Living conditions,Personal Loss,Physical destruction

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Babies Starving

When Bill Scott arrived in Seoul, they were given 4-5 days worth of rations. After seeing the starving children with or without parents, the soldiers fed the babies with their own food rather than watch them starve. Soldiers knew they had to take care of the kids and they were proud to have done it for them.

Tags: Seoul,Civilians,Food,Impressions of Korea,Living conditions,Orphanage,Personal Loss,Physical destruction,Poverty,South Koreans

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