Korean War Legacy Project

Lewis Ebert

Bio

Lewis H. Ebert was born on April 7, 1931 in Winchester, VA.  After graduating from Hanley High School, he enlisted in the Air Force June 1949.  After completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and supply training at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, he was deployed to Korea.  Only a short stay in Japan was needed to prepare for his arrival in Taegu on September 16, 1950, and he was stationed at K-2 Air Base in Taegu as a part of the 49th Fighter/Bomber Wing.  Lewis Ebert was a Staff Sergeant who was in charge of supplying ammunition to the troops, and for his commitments, he received the National Defense, Good Conduct, US Service, Korean Presidential Citation, US Presidential Unit Citation, and Korean Service Medal.  He returned to the United States on February 6, 1952, and was assigned to Eglin Air Base, Florida.  He was discharged on December 5, 1952 and afterwards began working in the newspaper business at the Winchester Star.

Video Clips

An Accident at K-2

Lewis Ebert was near a rocket that was accidentally fired and blew up a tractor trailer on base. That trailer was parked near him when it blew up because he was working at the K-2 Air Base. Luckily, Lewis Ebert didn't get injured in the incident.

Tags: Daegu,Fear,Front lines,Living conditions,Physical destruction,Weapons

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The Ebert Boys Heard the Calling to Arms

In June 1949, Lewis Ebert enlisted in the US Air Force a few weeks out of high school. He took his basic training in Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and then he was trained at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado for military supply training. While in Colorado, the Korean War broke out, but Lewis Ebert already had a lot of prior knowledge about Korea since his brothers all fought in WWII with one stationed in Korea.

Tags: Basic training,Civilians,Home front,Impressions of Korea,Living conditions,Pride,Prior knowledge of Korea,Weapons

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Preparing For and Entering the Korean War

After the Korean War started in June 1950, Lewis Ebert traveled to San Fransisco to prepare to leave for Japan and arrived there the middle of July. In September 1950, he was put on a train to travel to the south-end of Japan and then flew into Taegu, South Korea (September 16, 1950, the day after the Incheon Landing). The ROK (Republic of Korea) were flying out of Taegu which had a steel mat runway.

Tags: 1950 Pusan Perimeter, 8/4-9/18,1950 Inchon Landing, 9/15-9/19,Daegu,Incheon,Basic training,Fear,Front lines,Living conditions,North Koreans,Physical destruction,South Koreans,Weapons

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F80 Ammunition Supplying and Documenting History Through Letter Writing

Lewis Ebert came over with 3 squadrons of F80 Jets. He was assigned the ammunition supply section of the base and worked on the ammunition reports each night including replenishing the 50 caliber machine guns bullets. His letters home helped remind him how much ammo that the military went through each day because his mom and sister kept all the letters that he wrote twice a month.

Tags: Daegu,Civilians,Front lines,Home front,Impressions of Korea,Letters,Living conditions,Physical destruction,Pride,Weapons

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The Fierce Drive From the Chinese in November 1950

During Thanksgiving in November 1950, the Chinese entered the Korean War and pushed their troops down into Seoul. In January 1951, Lewis Ebert's troops were told to evacuate the Air Base in Taegu, but 10 airmen had to remain, so Lewis Ebert stayed. After the United Nations troops retook Seoul, Lewis Ebert was told to be a liaison in Pusan at the large gas depot.

Tags: 1951 January 4 Withdrawal, 12/31-1/7,Busan,Daegu,Chinese,Cold winters,Fear,Front lines,Living conditions,Personal Loss,Physical destruction,Weapons

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