Marvin Denton
Bio
Growing up during the Great Depression was difficult, especially in what Marvin Denton describes as a Jewish “ghetto” beside a Roman Catholic neighborhood. He received a draft notice near the end of World War II, and soon after, the Korean War began in 1950. After completing 16 weeks of basic training at Camp Polk, Louisiana, he joined the 45th Regiment, 279th Division, 3rd Infantry Battalion and sailed for 28 days through the Panama Canal. Arriving in Hokkaido in spring 1951, he trained as an observer on the Russian coast before reaching Pusan later that year. His unit then replaced the 1st Cavalry Division in the Chorwon Valley, where he helped prepare parkas, clothing, and other supplies for incoming troops.
Video Clips
We Didn't Know We Were Poor
Marvin Denton reflects on growing up during the Great Depression, noting the prices of candy, movies, and cigarettes. He also remembers never getting a day off from school, no matter the snow, heat, or rain. Despite the hardship, he explains, “We didn’t know we were poor; there was always food on the table.”
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Losing Buddies Was The Hardest Experience
Marvin Denton recalled losing members of his unit, noting how danger struck without warning. One soldier died after stepping on a mine while moving between companies, and gunfire often erupted at night when troops discovered another loss. Another soldier survived a shell that skimmed his helmet, while one who assured his parents he was safe was later killed in an ambush. Despite these tragedies, he remains grateful he survived and believes our nation, though imperfect, is the greatest in the world.
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Seoul: A Sad Sight
Marvin Denton recalled the hardships Korean civilians endured during the war. He often saw men and women yoked to long poles as they carried heavy buckets of sewage, and groups of children regularly approached soldiers seeking simple items like pencils or paper. These scenes stayed with him, and he felt deep sympathy for the people of South Korea.
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/marvin-denton#clip-3
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Jewish in the Army
Despite lingering antisemitism, Marvin Denton recalled only one incident in which intoxicated soldiers targeted him for being Jewish. Yet he also remembered how many others supported his faith, often urging him to attend Friday evening services instead of joining the usual Saturday inspection preparations.
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