Mike Scarano
Bio
Mike Scarano was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 9, 1931, into a poor Polish-Italian family. He faced several hardships during his childhood and was initially reluctant to attend school. After completing just one year of high school, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1947 at the age of sixteen. He was stationed in Korea before and during the Korean War. While serving on a tugboat during his first deployment to Korea, he witnessed the struggles many civilians faced, including the poverty surrounding orphanages. In 1949, he reenlisted in the U.S. military and volunteered for combat, believing it was the right thing to do. His unit was forced to retreat from Hamheung due to advancing Chinese forces, highlighting the urgency of preventing the enemy from seizing critical supplies. He left Korea in 1952 and went on to have a long career at a paper mill and in insurance sales. Mike Scarano took great pride in his military service and cherished the friendships he formed during this challenging period of his life.
Video Clips
Korean Orphanage
Mike Scarano shares his experiences from 1948, when he was stationed in Korea before the outbreak of the war. He remembers visiting St. Teresa's Orphanage in Incheon, where he delivered candy to the children and spent time playing with them. He reflects on the poor living conditions of the people he observed on the streets.
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Hungnam Evacuation
Mike Scarano was in Hungnam when, as he describes it, "the Chinese chased us out." He recounts how his company evacuated as many supplies as possible and burned the rest to prevent the Chinese from obtaining them. He remembers boarding the "Victory Ships" afterwards to evacuate to Busan.
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"There Were No Draft Dodgers"
Mike Scarano discusses his positive relationships with the Korean people. He notes that not many people are aware of World War II or the Korean War, but many are familiar with the issues related to the draft during the Vietnam War. He emphasizes that there were virtually no draft dodgers during the Korean War.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fODBpxJSKmw&start=1025&end=1072
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Video Transcript