James Ronald Twentey
Bio
James “Ron” Twentey was born on May 4, 1936 in Yellow Springs, Maryland. He graduated from Frederick High School in 1954. Upon graduation, he volunteered for the draft in 1954 but his number was never called so in June 1955 he joined the US Army. He completed basic training and then trained in general drafting before deploying in 1955 to Inchon as a part of the 24th infantry Division where he was assigned to G3 (Headquarters) near Munson. As an Infantry Combat Operations Specialist, his duties in Korea included plotting minefields and troop movements as well as preparing for VIP visits to the DMZ. He left Korea in the spring of 1957 and was assigned to be an engineering instructor. After his service, he worked as a draftsman for several companies and later as a director of marketing and communications.
Video Clips
Plotting Minefields
James "Ron" Twentey talks about his job as an Infantry Combat Operations Specialist plotting minefields and safety lanes. He explains that his educational background resulted in his being assigned to creating the safety lanes in minefields. He describes the choices made and layout details that are involved with minefield planning. He goes on to describe what a safety lane is and its specifications.
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/james-ronald-twentey#clip-1
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Nuclear War in Korea?
Ron Twentey talks about a harrowing duty he was assigned to perform...plotting targets for nuclear destruction throughout North Korea. He explains that at the time he was given this top secret task, he was told to complete it and then forget about it. He says he can now discuss it because this plan was published in detail in a 2011 edition of "The Graybeards." He explains that he was responsible for plotting several targets for nuclear bombs that would have been delivered by "Atomic Annie," a large cannon that actually made its way to Korea, though never used for its ultimate purpose.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhaSwuzk6sQ&start=624&end=910
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/james-ronald-twentey#clip-2
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Living Conditions in Munson
Ron Twentey describes the compound where he was stationed near Munson, Korea. He explains that his monthly salary was not very much and most of what he received, he sent home to his wife. He recalls seldom being able to bathe and the men having to haul five gallon cans of water along a cliff back to the compound for bathing. He goes on to describe utilizing tin cans as a means for security along the fence line; if they heard a noise from the cans, they would shoot at them.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhaSwuzk6sQ&start=1421&end=1597
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/james-ronald-twentey#clip-3
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Cigarettes as Money
Ron Twentey describes the need that still existed among the Korean people during his time there.
He explains that though the war was over, the people were still terribly impoverished and begged for food. He describes the children begging for food and for cigarettes which they sold to make money. He explains that he has never smoked but he would pay for the cigarette rations so that he could use them as currency and for trade. He recalls paying for his clothes to be laundered with cigarettes.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhaSwuzk6sQ&start=1600&end=1694
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/james-ronald-twentey#clip-4
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Photos
Ron Twentey
A picture of Ron Twentey when he was in service during the Korean War.
The USNS General Robert L. Howe
A picture of the USNS General Robert L. Howe, the ship on which Twentey traveled on to get to Korea.
Soldiers in a Car
A picture of soldiers riding in a vehicle while in service in Korea.
Ron Twentey (2)
A picture of Ron Twentey in a Military vehicle.
Bunker (Ron Twentey)
A picture of a bunker taken by Ron Twentey while in Korea.
Ron Twentey (1)
A picture of Ron Twentey in uniform while in service during the War in 1953.
Taro Leaf's 15th (2)
The second page of an article titled "Taro Leaf's 15th" in the publication "Pacific Stars and Stripes," which was a dedication to the 24th Infantry Division.
Taro Leaf's 15th
The first page of an article titled "Taro Leaf's 15th" in the publication "Pacific Stars and Stripes," which was a dedication to the 24th Infantry Division.
The Atomic Cannon (3)
The second page of an article that was published in "The Graybeards" in 2011 on an atomic cannon that was used in the Korean. Prior to this release, Twentey kept secret that he plotted specific locations into which the atomic cannon would go into either North Korea or China.
The Atomic Cannon (2)
The second page of an article that was published in "The Graybeards" in 2011 on an atomic cannon that was used in the Korean. Prior to this release, Twentey kept secret that he plotted specific locations into which the atomic cannon would go into either North Korea or China.
The Atomic Cannon in Korea (1)
The first page of an article that was published in "The Graybeards" in 2011 on an atomic cannon that was used in the Korean. Prior to this release, Twentey kept secret that he plotted specific locations into which the atomic cannon would go into either North Korea or China.
