Donald Urich
Bio
Donald Urich was drafted into the US Army in 1953 and was sent to Korea near the time of the armistice. He served as a Motor Sergeant with the 45th Infantry Division and later with the 7th Division Headquarters Motor Pool. In addition to servicing American vehicles, his unit also serviced the vehicles of Ethiopian and Greek troops. Following his return home in 1954, he used the GI Bill to attend Stevenson Automotive Body School for six months. He worked in the automotive industry his whole life in various jobs such as a body mechanic and service manager.
Video Clips
Landing in Incheon
Donald Urich remembers first landing in Incheon which he describes as crowded. From Incheon he recalls heading north and seeing the DMZ. He served as part of the 45th Infantry Division but was later transferred to the 7th Division. He recounts duties as part of the motor pool where he eventually became Motor Sergeant in charge of one hundred seven vehicles and dozens of mechanics. He shares the living conditions in Korea especially living in ten-men tents on cots.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQQoN4BBcf0&start=495&end=640
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/donald-urich#clip-1
Embed:
Learning About the Armistice
Donald Urich recalls being in Korea when the Armistice was signed. He felt relieved and believe the Armistice was a good thing because there would be no more fighting or killing. He remembers thinking that nobody told the North Koreans about the Armistice because they were sending shells over the DMZ when he traveled up there with a supply truck.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQQoN4BBcf0&start=643&end=816
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/donald-urich#clip-2
Embed:
1954 Seoul
Donald Urich recalls Seoul being desolate in 1954. He remembers houses were in shambles and businesses were in bad shape. He recounts seeing kids without shoes and lacking clothes in middle of a severely cold winter. He describes interactions with the children through sharing candy with them. Despite the challenging circumstances, he remembers the Korean people as cordial.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQQoN4BBcf0&start=1090&end=1238
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/donald-urich#clip-3
Embed:
Modern-Day Korea
Donald Urich shares his amazement in how much Korea has changed over the years since his time in the service. He comments Korean's economic success being the result of Korea outdoing itself and its success at producing a variety of goods for global markets. He supports having 30,000 American troops in Korea today as a strong deterrent to North Korea.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQQoN4BBcf0&start=1239&end=1488
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/donald-urich#clip-4
Embed:
Working with Foreign Troops
Donald Urich recounts his unit caring for the vehicles belonging to the Ethiopians, the Greeks, and the Turks. He remembers these foreign fighters as staunch in their religion and as ferocious fighters. He notes that the Ethiopians in particular were tall and muscular and nearly impossible to see at night until they were right upon you.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQQoN4BBcf0&start=1581&end=1722
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/donald-urich#clip-5
Embed: