Curtis Pilgrim
Bio
Curtis Pilgrim was born in Edgewood, Iowa, on October 24, 1931. Growing up on a dairy farm with his parents and a younger brother during the Great Depression meant that he was never hungry, but he remembered there being no money. He graduated from Edgewood High School in 1949 and entered Iowa State University to study agriculture. The Korean War soon started, and he was greatly disturbed by what was happening there, so it was just a matter of time before he enlisted so that he could do his part to help stop the spread of communism. He reported for active duty in February 1951 and received his basic training at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin as a Combat Construction Specialist, though it was not until January of 1952 that he landed in Korea. He recalled the night patrols as being particularly dangerous, and he reflected on the dire situations that the people of Korea faced.
Video Clips
Facing Fear With Courage
Curtis Pilgrim recalls living in a constant state of fear while serving on the front lines, yet finding courage to stand firm. He remembers being in awe of the Chinese soldiers and their determination to survive and how the Chinese often used American weapons against them. He recalls feeling unprepared when it came time to pull the trigger, despite being trained for combat.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WdnbuMSAcI&start=1141&end=1247
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/curtis-pilgrim#clip-1
Embed:
Teach Korea
Curtis Pilgrim makes his point as to why teaching the Korean War is so valuable to the next generation and that somehow it had been lost between the Second World War and Vietnam. He recalls coming home in uniform and the cab driver being unaware of the Korean War, though his fellow Americans were living and dying there. He stresses the fact that it was so much more than a police action and that it should never be forgotten.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WdnbuMSAcI&start=1997&end=2245
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/curtis-pilgrim#clip-2
Embed:
Orphans, Mama-sans, and Katusa!
Curtis Pilgrim talks about the Korean people and how he came to care for them. From the shoe shine boys to the mama-sans, he remembers how he and fellow soldiers would sometimes give their last dime to help buy them necessities, especially the orphans. He recalls having great respect for the KATUSA that served alongside him.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WdnbuMSAcI&start=1667&end=1810
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/curtis-pilgrim#clip-3
Embed: