James Rominger
Bio
James Rominger was born December 12, 1932 in Millport, Alabama. He joined the military in 1947, serving in Japan for two years before heading to Korea in 1950. He was a Morse code operator and radio repairmen before becoming a radio communications sergeant. He shares what it was like in Korea, including his interactions with his houseboy as well of the lack of supplies that were available. He also recalls what a typical day looked like for someone in his position. He served for more than 25 years and became a corporal master sergeant.
Video Clips
Korean House Boys
James Rominger talks about the duties of the Korean house boys who took care of all the general housekeeping needs of the soldiers. The house boys washed clothes, cleaned shoes and kept the general area clean in the foxholes and the bunkers in exchange for food and clothing. James Rominger shares why the teenage boy was unable to even return home.
We were very unprepared for WAR.
James Rominger believes the North Koreans were winning the war because the American soldiers were very unprepared. There was little food and their boots were rotten. He shares how soldiers were in the North Korean territory of Kumhwa Valley working hard to gain stabilization in an area that had been completely destroyed.
A typical day in the Kumhwa Valley
James Rominger discusses what a typical day looked like as a radio sergeant. He shares what food they ate and where they slept, but also what his job included. He remembers the procedures for fixing the radios and having to bring them to the forward observers.