Joe Larkin
Bio
Joe Larkin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1930. His family has roots in America, having immigrated from Ireland in the 1800s. His brothers laid a strong military foundation for him during World War II. After promising his father that he would finish high school, Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1948 and completed his service just six months before the Korean War began. As soon as he was eligible to reenlist through the replacement draft, Joe was on the first ship headed to Korea in early 1951. His battalion was assigned to reinforce regiments fighting against Chinese forces at the Punchbowl. Joe’s military occupational specialty (MOS) was truck driver; he transported supplies to the front lines and later helped haul timber to support troops during the Battle of the Hook. Joe had fond encounters with Korean villagers, who appreciated the efforts of American civilians, even though most people back home on the East Coast were largely unaware of the realities of the war, which upset him. He served in the Marine Corps for 25 years, holding the rank of Lieutenant during the Vietnam War before retiring as a Captain.
Video Clips
Harsh Winters and Ways to Detect the Enemy
Joe Larkin describes the conditions in the mountains at Punchbowl as terrible, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 20 degrees below zero. He explains that this extreme cold made it very difficult for firearms to function properly, as the oil and grease used in the guns would freeze, rendering them unusable. To address visibility issues, they developed searchlights capable of beaming off low-lying clouds, which allowed them to detect movement and see both enemy troops and their own soldiers during the Korean War.
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"Battle of the Hook" at Panmunjeom
Joe Larkin reflects on his Marine Division being sent to Panmunjeom to hold the line of resistance against the Chinese during the Battle of the Hook. He explains that this battle earned its name because the terrain resembled a hook, located between two main lines. Larkin's unit provided reinforcements by moving timber at night to avoid detection by the enemy. Although the outpost came under attack, resulting in casualties on both sides, the efforts of his division ultimately helped the UN troops secure the area.
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Girl In The Picture
Joe Larkin recalls his battalion's movement from the south to northern Korea, during which they passed through several villages and came into contact with the Korean people. He notes that the civilians were very grateful for the assistance the U.S. troops were providing. One little girl saw a picture of his niece in his pocket and kept pointing at it, but he didn’t understand her excitement. He remembers calling over an interpreter, who explained that the girl couldn't believe his niece had a flower in her hair.
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The Korean War Armistice
Joe Larkin explains that even though the armistice was signed, communication across the United States remained limited. He notes that the farther east he traveled, the less people were aware of the armistice. In San Francisco, for example, if you wanted to call someone on the East Coast, you had to pick up a rotary phone, dial 0 to reach the operator, who would then take your number and call you back later. He expresses his frustration with this lack of communication, especially given the terrible circumstances he had experienced; so few people knew that the war had come to an end.
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