Mayo Kjellsen
Bio
Mayo Kjellsen enlisted in the military at twenty, foreseeing an eventual draft. Joining the US Marine Corps, he underwent basic training at Camp Pendleton before being deployed to Korea in 1952 as part of the 5th Marine Regiment during the Korean War. Life in the field involved a month-long stint on the front lines in North Korea, followed by time in bunkers teeming with large rats. Assigned as a radio operator, Kjellsen carried a hefty 45-pound battery pack during combat as a Senior Radioman. His bravery earned him two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained from shrapnel and an exploding bunker. Afterward, he spent six months undergoing rehabilitation in Japan. Though he hasn’t returned to Korea, he takes immense pride in his service as a US Marine, knowing he contributed to the welfare of the South Korean people.
Video Clips
Enlisting in the US Marine Corps
Mayo Kjellsen joined the US Marine Corps at the age of 20, anticipating an imminent draft, a common practice at the time. He underwent training at Camp Pendleton in California. With no prior exposure to Korea, Kjellsen was taken aback when he witnessed a Korean woman openly nursing her baby near Inchon.
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C-Rations, Rats, and Radios, Oh, My!
During his time stationed in Korea, Mayo Kjellsen remembers consuming numerous C-Rations. He describes his primary duties which involved carrying a hefty 45-pound battery pack and maintaining radio communication for his regiment. He recalls one night while on radio watch in his bunker, he found himself shooting at sizable rats scurrying through the rafters, inadvertently startling his commander.
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Wounded in Korean War
Mayo Kjellsen recalls being injured twice during the Korean War. He was struck by shrapnel in his knee during one incident and was blown out of his bunker by another shot. Following his second injury, he explains he was transferred to a hospital ship in the harbor and then sent to Japan for rehabilitation. After six months of recovery, Kjellsen returned to the US to complete his remaining time in the military.
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