James L. Owen
Bio
James L. Owen was born on January 28, 1926, in Lubbock, Texas. He joined the Marine Corps at a very young age and served in both World War II and the Korean War. He participated in the Incheon Landing and was part of the northward push to the Yalu River. He described war as a time in which one had to kill or be killed. He explained that he had to make up his mind to survive, or he felt he would surely die. He was fortunate to be stationed near his brother and was able to see him occasionally. He was proud of his service and of South Korea’s development since the war.
Video Clips
Strategy in North Korea
James L. Owen details the strategy commanded by General MacArthur when they pushed past the 38th parallel. He remembers how the Chinese surrounded them for thirty days near the Yalu River. He recalls destruction along the way and recounts sailing around the peninsula to get to North Korea.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQUVbMPqPk4&start=335&end=481
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/james-l-owen#clip-1
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Experience at Incheon
James L. Owen details arriving at Incheon Landing in September 1950. He recalls his platoon spending sixty days pushing back North Korean troops from there. He remembers taking all the equipment back on the ship, going to the other side of the peninsula, and proceeding forward pushing the North Korean forces as far north as the Chinese border.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQUVbMPqPk4&start=482&end=582
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/james-l-owen#clip-2
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Most Difficult Thing
James L. Owen explains that the most difficult part of his service was knowing it had to be done and finding the strength to get up and do it. He shares it was hard to accept the fact that one must "kill or be killed." He describes how so many officers were killed, how job responsibilities constantly changed, and that one had to persevere.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQUVbMPqPk4&start=682&end=783
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/james-l-owen#clip-3
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