Loren Schumacher
Bio
Loren Schumacher was born in La Rose, Illinois, on October 23, 1931. He attended La Rose High School and worked on his father’s farm before joining the United States Marine Corps on August 25, 1950. Loren underwent extensive training for the challenging environments of the Korean Peninsula at Parris Island, South Carolina, and Camp Pendleton, California. He deployed to Korea in January 1951, where he served bravely on the front lines. Loren was awarded the Purple Heart after an attack by Chinese forces on Outpost Reno resulted in a concussion from enemy shelling. He was proud to have served during the Korean War and continued his military service until 1970.
Video Clips
Cold Weather Training
Loren Schumacher recounts his arrival at Camp Pendleton and his subsequent departure to the mountains of California for Cold Weather Training at Pickel Meadow. He shares his experience of being paired with another soldier in a pup tent and describes how the Permanent Party of Marines disrupted the sleep of the trainees. He explains that the primary purpose of cold weather training is to acclimate the soldiers to the cold environment, as well as to the disturbances that can occur at any time, day or night.
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Sleeping Soldier in South Korea
Loren Schumacher reflects on how soldiers slept in Korea, surrounded by the sounds of gunfire and waking at two-hour intervals. He describes how his tent was positioned in front of a 105mm howitzer that fired interdictory rounds every ten minutes. He recalls being sent to the eastern end of the 38th parallel to watch and listen for enemy activity, taking turns with his partner in two-hour watches.
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Surviving an Attack by the Chinese at Outpost Reno
Loren Schumacher recounts an attack by Chinese forces on Outpost Reno, also known as Yoke. He explains that he and thirty-six other soldiers were defending the outpost when a battalion of Chinese soldiers launched an assault against them. He describes how his lieutenant used a PRC-6 radio to report that they were being overrun. In response, the captain at the command post ordered VT artillery to be fired on their position, which ultimately halted the Chinese attack. He states that he was wounded by a Chinese shell that exploded in a pit directly in front of him, causing a concussion and earning him a Purple Heart.
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Exploding Outhouses
Loren Schumacher describes how the soldier's latrine was maintained using gasoline and matches, highlighting the dangers associated with this task. He recounts an incident when the maintenance worker forgot to bring a match to ignite the gasoline, so he left to retrieve one. He recalls that upon his return, he carelessly tossed a lit match into the latrine without noticing that a soldier was using the facilities at that moment. He reflects on the many ways one could be killed during the war, emphasizing that not all dangers came from combat.
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Video Transcript