Daniel Kawaiaea
Bio
Daniel Kawaiaea was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951. Following basic training in 1952, he was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division of the Army’s 31st Regiment. He recalls the challenges of being a squad leader in charge of six other men during his time in Korea. Although limited in details, he recollects a battle in which he was wounded in a rocket attack and the subsequent hospitalization in the Tokyo General Hospital before returning home to Hawaii. He is proud of the role he played in the Korean War.
Video Clips
I'm a Squad Leader Now
Daniel Kawaiaea speaks of the challenges he faced as a squad leader who was provided with very little training to prepare him for commanding others. He discusses the mindset many felt in having to take a human life to save his own. He concludes with a brief account of being wounded in the jaw while serving in Korea.
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The Most Difficult Thing
Daniel Kawaiaea recalls some of the challenges of being a squad leader. He often wonders what may have happened to his men after he was wounded and evacuated from Korea. He discusses the challenge of losing his hearing as a result of being wounded in his jaw during one battle which the name and location he cannot recall.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7HTw_mjoIw&start=1234&end=1375
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/daniel-kawaiaea#clip-2
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I Had a Duty to Perform
Daniel Kawaiaea shares some of the lessons he learned as a Korean War soldier. He details the duties and expectations that were placed upon many of those who served. He notes that although he is experiencing some memory loss he will be compensated for the struggles that come his way as a result of serving and being injured in Korea.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7HTw_mjoIw&start=1383&end=1574
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/daniel-kawaiaea#clip-3
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