Gene Stone
Bio
Gene Stone served in Korea from 1953 to 1955 as part of the 181st Counterintelligence Detachment to the 1st Marine Division. As a young ROTC graduate of Tennessee Tech, he completed basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, before volunteering for a top-secret organization– the Counterintelligence Corps. Following graduation from counterintelligence school at Ft. Holabird, Maryland, he was sent to Korea, where he was among twelve counterintelligence personnel to establish the 181st Counterintelligence Detachment to the 1st Marine Division. While stationed in Korea, his unit interrogated many prisoners of war as part of Operation Little Switch and Operation Big Switch. After returning home, he worked as a mechanical engineer. He was active in the local Korean War Veterans Association where he helped in the development of a local memorial to Korean War Veterans in Cumberland County, TN.
Video Clips
It was My Obligation
Gene Stone shares his early experiences in the military following his graduation from Tennessee Tech as part of the ROTC program. He recalls his mother suggesting he continue his schooling to avoid serving in Korea, but he felt it was his obligation as an American to serve wherever he was sent. He explains the requirements of those who sought to become part of the Counterintelligence Corps.
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Learning Counterintelligence
Gene Stone served as part of the 181st Counterintelligence Detachment during and after the Korean War. He shares what the training he received at Ft. Holabird was like. He notes the importance of observation and description in his training. He details one learning experience early in his training that in the end helped develop his skills in counterintelligence.
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Attachment to the 1st Marine Division
Gene Stone became part of the twelve men attached to the 1st Marine Division in order to establish the 181st Counterintelligence Detachment. He notes the Marines did not have counterintelligence units so spies were coming through the Marines "like gangbusters". He shares the involvement of counterintelligence units in Operation Little Switch and Operation Big Switch in which prisoners of war were exchanged following the armistice.
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Interrogating Infiltrators
Gene Stone recalls his major duties as a member of the 181st Counterintelligence Detachment included interviewing and interrogating enemy infiltrators. He remembers having eight hours to determine if the person was indeed an enemy infiltrator, complete eight copies of an eight page report, and send them onto 1st Corp Headquarters in Uijeongbu. He recounts one particular incident with what turned out to be an Chinese infiltrator.
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Learning Counterintelligence Techniques
Gene Stone recalls several members of his detachment served as part of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. He notes learning many techniques from sitting in on interrogations with these experienced members of his detachment.
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Information Gathered from Counterintelligence Activities
Gene Stone recalls he learned much about the Chinese treatment of prisoners of war. He notes that it often involved electric shock. One of the important questions his detachment asked prisoners of war from both sides was if they wanted to go back to the side in which they were fighting for. He does not recall any Chinese or North Korean prisoners of war declaring a desire to stay in the "free world", but does note that during Operation Big Switch there were 23 Americans who declined to return to the United States.
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Operation Little Switch and Operation Big Switch
Gene Stone served in his counterintelligence detachment after the armistice. He assisted in interrogating prisoners of war as part of Operation Little Switch and Operation Big Switch. He notes Operation Little Switch involved the return of injured and sick prisoners of war, while Operation Big Switch led to the exchange of all other prisoners of war. He recalls hearing of the horrific conditions these American prisoners faced while being held by the Chinese and North Koreans.
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Dangerous First Night on the Front Lines
Gene Stones recalls a dangerous situation the first night he was on the front lines with the 1st Marine Division. He details one of his tent mates returning from the outhouse to alert everyone the Chinese were coming over the concertina wire fence into their camp. He remembers not really recognizing the danger while the event was occurring but later realizing the enemy had shot at him.
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