John Jefferies
Bio
John Jefferies was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1929 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951. His older brother’s high blood pressure had kept him out of World War II, and John felt it was important to represent his family in one of America’s wars. He attended Non-Commissioned Officers School, Officer Training School, and Medical Administration School before serving in Korea. During his time in Korea, he served as a medical administrator with the 514th Medical Clearing Company at a hospital that treated North Korean POWs. While stationed in Korea, he participated in a notable POW escape and a subsequent POW exchange. John benefited from the GI Bill, which he used to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota, where he obtained a degree in hospital administration. He was proud of his service and the time he spent in Korea, believing it contributed to his long and successful career as a hospital administrator.
Video Clips
Arriving in Korea
John Jefferies remembers arriving in Pusan, South Korea, in 1953, and how the reality of war hit him as he disembarked. He was assigned to a Medical Clearing Company and describes his responsibilities during his time there. He shares that he worked in a POW camp where North Korean soldiers were detained.
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POW Escape
John Jefferies recounts a successful and massive escape by North Korean prisoners of war that took place early one morning. He describes how the North Koreans used towels to damage part of the fencing around the camp and remembers witnessing thousands of them fleeing. He recalls having to defend himself in order to survive the situation.
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Prisoner Exchange
John Jefferies recalls a POW exchange that took place in Panmunjeom. He describes how the North Korean POWs reacted to being part of this exchange. He notes that new uniforms and other supplies were distributed to the POWs, and they received haircuts before the exchange. He recounts how the POWs tossed their old clothes out of the trucks and scratched themselves during the journey to the exchange in an effort to falsely portray how poorly they had been treated.
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A Sergeant's Mistake and a South Korean Helper
John Jefferies shares his memories of an encounter with a drunk American sergeant. He recalls coming across the sergeant, who was firing at children running through a village. He shares that when he confronted the sergeant, the gun was turned on him. He recalls running to seek the help of several South Korean soldiers, but upon his return with aid, the sergeant had fled. He adds that he luckily found no wounded children.
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G.I. Bill Benefits
John Jefferies shares that he used his G.I. Bill benefits to earn a Master's degree in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota. He recounts the journey he took to secure successful employment over the years. He expresses gratitude for the G.I. Bill and reflects on how his military service during the war helped prepare him for his career.
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Video Transcript