Daniel J. Rickert
Bio
Daniel J. Rickert enlisted in the Army Reserve following high school graduation. Activated in January 1951, he completed basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Ord, California, and then awaited deployment to Korea at Camp Stoneman. Arriving in Korea in April 1951, he was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division, 3rd Combat Engineers Battalion, and later attached to the 5th Regimental Combat Team. Serving on a demolition team, he located and disarmed mines and demolished infrastructure, spending much of his time in the Iron Triangle and participating in Operation Nomad. Wounded in battle, he was awarded the Bronze Star. He remains active in the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA).
Video Clips
Defusing Danger
Daniel Rickert, a Demolition Corporal with the 3rd Combat Engineers Battalion, describes his role during the Korean War. Initially trained as an infantry soldier, he handled demolition tasks, including removing explosives from dangerous Chinese box mines. He details the mines' appearance and operation and explains the careful process he used to locate and disarm them.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NM3gLhnbFE&start=622&end=834
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/daniel-j-rickert#clip-1
Embed:
Dangerous Missions and Unrecognized Sacrifices in Korea
Daniel Rickert recounts his experiences as a demolition corporal in Korea, detailing the challenges of locating and disarming enemy bunkers and trenches, which were intricately designed and difficult to find. He describes several dangerous situations he faced, including a concussion and a severe leg injury. Despite his injuries and the risks he endured, he was not eligible for a Purple Heart due to his attached status, though he felt he deserved one.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NM3gLhnbFE&start=892&end=1069
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/daniel-j-rickert#clip-2
Embed:
Operation Nomad
Daniel Rickert recalls enduring the harsh winter in Korea as one of his toughest challenges. However, the most difficult engagement he faced was attacking a tunnel near Kunsan during Operation Nomad, the last major UN offensive of the war. He details his role in the destruction of this tunnel, highlighting the intense nature of the operation.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NM3gLhnbFE&start=1089&end=1402
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/daniel-j-rickert#clip-3
Embed:
Bunker Life
Daniel Rickert describes life as a soldier in Korea, where he spent two weeks on the Main Line of Resistance (MLR) living in bunkers, followed by a week in reserves in partially buried squad tents. During the harsh winter, the cold was so intense that they often relied on body heat to warm their field rations. He also explains the practice of "hot bunking," where two soldiers shared a sleeping bag, taking turns sleeping while the other kept watch.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NM3gLhnbFE&start=1682&end=1953
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/daniel-j-rickert#clip-4
Embed:
"It Was a Miracle"
In 1998, Daniel Rickert revisited South Korea and reflected on the stark differences between his experiences there 50 years apart. He is astonished by the country's rebuilding and modernization, describing it as "a miracle." The growth and prosperity of cities like Seoul left a deep impression on him, and he credits the hardworking Korean people for the nation's remarkable transformation.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NM3gLhnbFE&start=2053&end=2100
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/daniel-j-rickert#clip-5
Embed: