Korean War Legacy Project

Franklin Searfoss

Bio

Franklin Searfoss was born in 1936 in Goshen, Indiana. Shortly after graduation from Syracuse High School in 1954, he enlisted in the United States Army with the hope of training with the veterinary corp. At the end of basic training in Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, he was informed the veterinary corp had been dissolved. In light of this, he chose to pursue training as a medical specialist. Upon completion of his training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division and attached to Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany. Afterwards, he studied electrical engineering at DeVry University, in Chicago, and embarked on a career with IBM.

Video Clips

Interest in Global Affairs

Franklin Searfoss remembers newsreels about the Korean War in the theaters and citizens in support of the war. He describes how having WWII veterans as his high school teachers helped develop his interest in global affairs. Nevertheless, like many soldiers knowing nothing about Korea before going to fight in the Korean War, he acknowledges not learning about Korea in his high school classes.

Tags: Basic training,Home front,Prior knowledge of Korea

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My Duty to Serve

Franklin Searfoss shares details about his enlistment in the United States Army in October 1954 and his wish to train in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. Days before completing basic training at Camp Chafee, Arkansas, he describes finding out about the Veterinary Corps being dissolved. Consequently, he highlights the options he was given and his choice to train as a medical specialist at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Driven by the desire to serve his country, he acknowledges, for the most part, not caring where he completed this service. Above all, he feels it is important to serve one's nation.

Tags: Basic training,Pride

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On High Alert

Franklin Searfoss elaborates on his experience with the 22nd ambulance train in Lundstahl Army Medical Center, Germany. Simultaneously, as the Cold War and the Middle East Crisis escalated, he describes driving ambulances and training measures in the area. Since they were living under these circumstances, he discusses security measures they encountered while under high alert near Ramstein Air Base.

Tags: Civilians,Living conditions

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