Ralph Blum
Bio
Ralph Blum was born on December 17, 1930, and grew up on a large dairy farm located six miles outside of Monroe, Wisconsin. His family faced the challenges of the Great Depression, but they always had food thanks to their farm and a large garden. Ralph attended a one-room country school until the sixth grade and graduated from Monroe High School in 1948. In October 1950, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Although he was offered a spot in Officer Candidate School, he attended artillery school instead. In June 1951, Ralph was deployed to Korea, where he served on the front lines for eleven months. He led a ten-man crew that operated a 105 Howitzer almost daily. During his service, the highest pay he received was $130 a month, which included $45 for combat pay. In 2012, Ralph revisited Korea with his son and was impressed by the country’s development since his time there. Everywhere he went, Koreans expressed their gratitude, and the visit helped him understand the meaning of his service. Reflecting on his experiences, Ralph believed that the United States had improved its treatment of veterans significantly over the last twenty years compared to when he returned from the war in Korea.
Video Clips
Not a Forgotten War in Korea
Ralph Blum discusses revisiting Korea in 2012 with his son, who is a commercial airline pilot. He shares how his perspective on Korea changed after witnessing the significant advancements the nation has made. He mentions that during his visit to the DMZ and Seoul, while wearing his Korean War cap and jacket, everyone from cab drivers to school children expressed their gratitude for his service. He explains that this revisit helped answer his question about why he served in Korea.
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A Tale of Two Seouls
Ralph Blum compares his experiences in Seoul during March 1952 with his visit in May 2012. He describes Seoul in 1952 as a chaotic and completely devastated city. He recalls that there were only a few bridges during the war, and he crossed the Imjin River on a pontoon bridge. By 2012, he notes that Seoul had transformed dramatically, featuring modern buildings and heavy traffic.
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Dangers
Ralph Blum recalls that he was typically stationed half a mile to three miles behind the front lines. He notes that the North Koreans were skilled with mortars, and he found it difficult to hear them coming. He remembers being shelled approximately every third day. He recounts watching the sky, as the North Koreans would zero in with sky bursts, signaling that incoming mortars were on the way. He explains that they would take cover under the 105 Howitzer when they moved behind the infantry to avoid being shelled until they could dig foxholes.
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Makeshift Stove for Warmth
Ralph Blum recalls building a bunker with a few other Marines. He describes how their bunker had three feet of dirt on top. He shares how they created a stove using a fuse box by filling it with sand and utilizing fuses from shells. He recounts how they used a five-gallon can filled with diesel fuel, which kept them reasonably warm during the nights spent in the bunker.
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Video Transcript