Lewis Ebert
Bio
Lewis H. Ebert was born in Winchester, VA on April 7, 1931. After graduating from Hanley High School, he enlisted in the Air Force in June 1949. He deployed to Korea after basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and supply training at Lowry Air Force Base. He briefly stopped in Japan before arriving at K-2 Air Base in Taegu on September 16, 1950, where he supplied ammunition as a Staff Sergeant with the 49th Fighter/Bomber Wing. For his service, he earned several honors, including the National Defense Medal and the Korean Service Medal. Ebert returned to the U.S. on February 6, 1952, and received a new assignment at Eglin Air Base. After his discharge on December 5, 1952, he started a career with the Winchester Star newspaper.
Video Clips
An Accident at K-2
Lewis Ebert vividly recalls a dangerous incident during his time at K-2 Air Base. While on duty, a rocket accidentally fired and struck a nearby parked tractor trailer. The explosion happened alarmingly close to where he stood. Fortunately, he escaped without injury. This near-miss became one of the most unforgettable moments of his service.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXkGU9x221k&start=878&end=961
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/lewis-ebert#clip-1
Embed:
The Ebert Boys Heard the Calling to Arms
In June 1949, just weeks after high school, Lewis Ebert remembers enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and supply training at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado. When the Korean War broke out, he acknowledges learning a little about Korea from one of his brothers who had been stationed there during WWII. He credits his brothers' extensive military service for giving him a better understanding of the challenges he would face.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXkGU9x221k&start=98&end=260
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/lewis-ebert#clip-2
Embed:
Preparing For and Entering the Korean War
Lewis Ebert describes his journey to Korea following the outbreak of the war in June 1950. He began by traveling to San Francisco to prepare for deployment, then arrived in Japan by mid-July. In September, he boarded a train to southern Japan before flying into Taegu, South Korea, on September 16, just a day after the Incheon Landing. This marked the start of his active service.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXkGU9x221k&start=260&end=512
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/lewis-ebert#clip-3
Embed:
F80 Ammunition Supplying and Documenting History Through Letter Writing
Lewis Ebert arrived in Korea with three squadrons of F-80 jets. He was assigned to the base’s ammunition supply section, managing ammunition reports and replenishing .50 caliber machine gun bullets each night. In his letters home, he often mentioned the vast amount of ammunition used daily. His mother and sister saved all these letters, which he sent twice a month, providing him a reminder of the intense demands of the war.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXkGU9x221k&start=512&end=650
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/lewis-ebert#clip-4
Embed:
The Fierce Drive From the Chinese in November 1950
During Thanksgiving in November 1950, Lewis Ebert recalls the Chinese entering the Korean War and pushing troops south into Seoul. By January 1951, his unit was ordered to evacuate the Taegu Air Base, but he notes he volunteered to stay behind with nine other airmen. After United Nations forces retook Seoul, he received a new assignment. He was sent to Pusan to serve as a liaison at a large gas depot. This new role placed him in a critical position supporting the ongoing war effort.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXkGU9x221k&start=650&end=854
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/lewis-ebert#clip-5
Embed: