James Elmer Bishop
Bio
James Elmer Bishop’s military service started at a young age when he joined the United States Army National Guard at the age of thirteen. His experience in the U.S. Army National Guard prepared him for his time in the U.S. Army. At the age of sixteen, he was drafted into the army for missing three consecutive National Guard meetings. He expected that his age would be found out, but he was sent to basic training. In basic training, he was promoted to acting corporal because of his service in the National Guard. He experienced the integration of the military when training at Ft. Bliss in Texas. Before being stent to Korea, he believed the war was not that bad. He recalls this feeling changing quickly once he heard and saw the guns. He was wounded several times, the first being after shooting a Chinese soldier who stabbed him with a bayonet. He was injured again with shrapnel when he was ambushed on a patrol. He recalls being sent back to his unit as a replacement for himself since the U.S. Army was short on tank drivers. After the war he was able to use the GI Bill to by a house. He recounts the pride he has with serving his country but the hope that others do have to go to war like he did.
Video Clips
Joining the United States Army National Guard
James Elmer Bishop discusses enlisting in the United States Army National Guard at the age of thirteen. He recalls getting to drive a jeep and handling supplies. He admits that he was the Sergeant's pet and would always do more than asked. He shares that he missed three National Guard meetings and was drafted at the age of sixteen. He describes waiting for them to call him out on his age, but they did not.
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Learning to Drive a Tank
James Elmer Bishop discusses being trained as a light truck driver and learning to drive a tank at Ft. Bliss in Texas. He admits that driving a tank was difficult because of his height. He describes starting a tank in second gear since first gear was for pulling things. He demonstrates how he would shift a M47 tank and discusses how to speed shift a tank. He recalls being left out in the field and told to bring the tank back, forcing him to figure out how to drive it.
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First Time Under Fire
James Elmer Bishop discusses the first time he came under fire in Korea. He recalls a time when he was on guard duty, and he came face-to-face with a Chinese soldier. He describes shooting the Chinese soldier with a .45 caliber submachine gun and being stabbed with a bayonet when the solider fell on him. He explains that he fought the Chinese solider for a while not knowing he was already dead. He says today he can laugh about it, but at the time, he thought he was going to die.
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Being Wounded and Helicopter Evacuation
James Elmer Bishop discusses being injured when a shell hit near him after an ambush. He recalls being thrown over nineteen feet into a river bed by the blast. After returning to camp, he recounts being told he was bleeding and realizing he had shrapnel in his leg. He shares he realized how much he was bleeding when he took off his boot. He describes being flown on a helicopter to a hospital, losing consciousness, and coming to on the stretcher attached to the side of the helicopter. He admits he passed out again from the loss of blood and woke up next in the hospital when they were pulling shrapnel from his leg.
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