Clifford Bradley Dawson
Bio
Clifford Bradley Dawson was drafted into the United States Army in 1952 during the Korean War. In 1953, he began basic training and eventually was trained to maintain wires in the Signal Corp. During training, he was part of the 10th Infantry division which was a training division. He experienced being part of an integrated training unit even though there was still an all Black and another all White regiment in the 10th Infantry division. At the time, he was aware of the war in Korea due to having a brother already serving in Korea. His primary job in Korea was to make sure all parts of the artillery unit he was part of were in communication. He spent his time in Korea south of the Han River where he experienced the Armistice in July 1953. He recalls not trusting the Chinese and North Koreans as being on guard even though combat was supposed to be over. After the war, he decided to reenlist, even returning to Korea in the 1960s and serving in the Vietnam war, and retiring in 1976.
Video Clips
Basic Training and Integration of the Military
Clifford Bradly Dawson discusses being drafted out of high school and going to basic training. He recalls that at Ft. Riley there were three regiments in the 10th Infantry division during training. One all Black, one all White, and one Integrated. He describes being in the integrated unit and serving alongside fellow soldiers from all over the United States.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2QUbdkjayQ&start=149&end=337
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/clifford-bradley-dawson#clip-1
Embed:
Basic Training and Advanced Training
Clifford Bradley Dawson discusses his eight weeks of infantry training where he fired anything from the M1 rifle to the thirty caliber machine gun and rocket launchers. He recalls being assigned for signal training and learning to climb poles and string communication wire. He describes his equipment which included lineman equipment such as spikes on his boots. He remembers that he was put in an artillery unit when he arrived in Korea and his job was to make sure wires between units were working.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2QUbdkjayQ&start=343&end=570
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/clifford-bradley-dawson#clip-2
Embed:
Maintaining Communications in Korea
Clifford Bradley Dawson explains how he was assigned to B Company as a replacement. He describes his role in maintaining communication between artillery batteries, headquarters, and the fire direction center. He explains how he worked a switchboard by connecting multiple switches together to make sure everyone was connected. He recalls that most of the communication in Korea was wired versus radio.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2QUbdkjayQ&start=869&end=1067
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/clifford-bradley-dawson#clip-3
Embed:
Cease Fire and Christmas in Korea
Clifford Bradley Dawson explains what it felt like when the cease fire was called in July of 1953. He describes watching across the Han River and watching the final rounds going off that night. He recalls that there were no celebrations and being suspicious of the Chinese and North Koreans. He remembers celebrating Christmas in Korea even though they did not have a tree. He describes playing cards to pass the time.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2QUbdkjayQ&start=1244&end=1379
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/clifford-bradley-dawson#clip-4
Embed: