Korean War Legacy Project

Richard A. Houser

Bio

Richard Houser (79) was born in Syracuse, NY. He was working as a welder at Carrier Air Conditioning Company in Syracuse when he was drafted for military service and he served from 1952 to November 1954. During his service period, he went to Inchon and was stationed at Kumwha-Chorwon Valley “Porkchop Hill” from April 1953 to May 1954 with the 7th Infantry Division, 17th Infantry regiment, Company E as a Private. During his time in Korea, he was an infantry rifleman and he received awards  including the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Good Conduct, National Defense, Korean Service, UN Korean Service, New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and a Korean Ambassador for Peace medal. 

Video Clips

The Korean War Draft and Basic Training

Richard Houser was working and got married before he was drafted in 1953. He didn't think that he would get drafted and one month after getting the letter, he was sent to boot camp.

Tags: Basic training,Fear,Home front,Impressions of Korea,Prior knowledge of Korea

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Leaving for Korean War in 1953

Richard Houser took a ship and landed in Inchon in April 1953 after a lonely 20 day ship ride to Korea. While traveling to his base in the Chorwon Valley known as the Iron Triangle, Richard Houser was able to see Seoul leveled, small thatched homes, and dirt roads all around him.

Tags: 1953 Battle of Pork Chop Hill, 3/23-7/16,Gangneung,Incheon,Pyungyang,Civilians,Fear,Front lines,Impressions of Korea,Living conditions,Physical destruction,Poverty

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The Korean War Ceasefire

Richard Houser fought until the last second to hold Porkchop Hill in the Chorwon Valley right before the ceasefire. It felt great for him when the war ended because he was able to build new trenches farther off the 38th parallel.

Tags: 1953 Battle of Pork Chop Hill, 3/23-7/16,1953 Armistice 7/27,Gangneung,Pyungyang,Chinese,Communists,Fear,Front lines,KATUSA,Living conditions,Personal Loss,Physical destruction

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Fighting Alongside with UN Nations

Richard Houser fought along with Turks, Aussies, Ethiopians, Greeks, and Columbians while fighting against communism. The Chinese were afraid of the Turks because they would cut off the ear of their enemy as a trophy.

Tags: 1953 Battle of Pork Chop Hill, 3/23-7/16,Geumgang,Pyungyang,Chinese,Communists,Fear,Front lines,Living conditions,Pride,Weapons

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bR69J2hCVU&start=1118&end=1336

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The Ceasefire, Korean Civilians, and the Death of a Friend

Richard Houser protected the 38th parallel throughout the winter of 1953 from a trench and Camp Casey. After the ceasefire civilians wanted to go back to their land to farm, but it was filled with mines which took the lives of many civilians.

Tags: 1953 Armistice 7/27,Gangneung,Pyungyang,Civilians,Cold winters,Front lines,Living conditions,Personal Loss,Physical destruction,Poverty,South Koreans

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bR69J2hCVU&start=1336&end=1668

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Returning to the US After Serving in the US Army

Richard Houser returned to the US in the spring of 1934 and most of the people from his town didn't even know he was gone. Newspapers didn't publicize the Korean War since it was tired from WWII, so most of the veterans did not get a warm welcome home.

Tags: Civilians,Depression,Home front,Impressions of Korea,Living conditions,Pride

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Korea Revisit

Richard Houser went back to Korea with his wife a few years before the interview was taped. The bright lights, huge buildings, and prosperity of the Korean people made him proud for fighting to free the Korean civilians.

Tags: Incheon,Seoul,Civilians,Impressions of Korea,Living conditions,Modern Korea,Pride,Prior knowledge of Korea,South Koreans

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Photos

Marilyn Monroe visits the troops in Korea

Marilyn Monroe visits the troops in Korea

City of Seoul

City of Seoul

Center of the city of Seoul, Korea 1953

Center of the city of Seoul, Korea 1953

Richard Houser, Korea general depot

Richard Houser, Korea general depot

17th REGT, 2nd Battle area near Chorwon

17th REGT, 2nd Battle area near Chorwon

Side street, downtown of Seoul

Side street, downtown of Seoul

Truck on the road by tent line

Truck on the road by tent line

3OF12

3OF12

Sweeping with a broom

Sweeping with a broom

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

Leaving Pusan harbor

Leaving Pusan harbor

Imjin river

Imjin river

Looking down wooded mountain

Looking down wooded mountain

Military base surrounded by woods

Military base surrounded by woods

Shooting a flame thrower

Shooting a flame thrower

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

Traffic police in Seoul

Traffic police in Seoul

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

Side street, downtown of Seoul

Side street, downtown of Seoul

Korean house boy

Korean house boy

Richard Houser, Korea general depot

Richard Houser, Korea general depot

The great gate of Seoul

The great gate of Seoul

Village Near 17th REGT Area 1953

Village Near 17th REGT Area 1953

Village Near 17th REGT Area 1953

Village Near 17th REGT Area 1953

Richard Houser wife's Grandma's house

Richard Houser wife's Grandma's house

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

17th REGT, 2nd Battle Headquarters area

Personal carrier 17th REGT. 2nd Batt. Porkchop Hill

Personal carrier 17th REGT. 2nd Batt. Porkchop Hill

Leaving Pusan harbor, Randal troop ship

Leaving Pusan harbor, Randal troop ship

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

Helicopter carrying baggage

Helicopter carrying baggage

VERNON YOUNG USMC 1950

VERNON YOUNG USMC 1950

CHOI CHANG SIK HOUSE BOY

CHOI CHANG SIK HOUSE BOY

Korean house boys

Korean house boys

Village Near 17th REGT Area 1953

Village Near 17th REGT Area 1953

KIMPO AIR FIELD K16

KIMPO AIR FIELD K16

KIMPO AIR FIELD K16

KIMPO AIR FIELD K16

KIMPO AIR FIELD K16

KIMPO AIR FIELD K16

USO SHOW GIRL

USO SHOW GIRL

USO SHOW GIRL

USO SHOW GIRL

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

17th ING. REG 2nd BATT AREA NEAR IMJIN RIVER

GENERALS AND DWIGHT EISENHOWER

GENERALS AND DWIGHT EISENHOWER

City of Seoul

City of Seoul

17th REGT 2nd BATT HDQ

17th REGT 2nd BATT HDQ

HELICOPTER TAKING OUT WOUNDED

HELICOPTER TAKING OUT WOUNDED

Village Near 17th REGT Area 1953

Village Near 17th REGT Area 1953

Two soldiers plowing up

Two soldiers plowing up

PUSAN PORT

PUSAN PORT

PUSAN PORT Military band performance

PUSAN PORT Military band performance

Putting up a banner on Pusan port

Putting up a banner on Pusan port

Pusan harbor

Pusan harbor

Pusan harbor

Pusan harbor

Pusan harbor

Pusan harbor

BRONZE PLAQUE OF U.S. KILLED IN ACTION, POINTING AT HIS FRIEND' NAME (Richard Houser's hand)

BRONZE PLAQUE OF U.S. KILLED IN ACTION, POINTING AT HIS FRIEND' NAME (Richard Houser's hand)

DINNER HONORING KOREAN WAR VETERANS, REGGY, MARIE, GENERAL PARK AND HIS WIFE

DINNER HONORING KOREAN WAR VETERANS, REGGY, MARIE, GENERAL PARK AND HIS WIFE

DINNER HONORING KOREAN WAR VETERANS, REGGY, MARIE, GENERAL PARK AND HIS WIFE

DINNER HONORING KOREAN WAR VETERANS, REGGY, MARIE, GENERAL PARK AND HIS WIFE

4/9/50: PFC. Solomon W. Richardson

4/9/50: PFC. Solomon W. Richardson

March 10, 1951

March 10, 1951

March 12, 1951

March 12, 1951

March 11, 1950...off the coast of Cuba

March 11, 1950...off the coast of Cuba

11-20-1949 Magee and Bankes

11-20-1949 Magee and Bankes

1/20/50 PFC. Solomon W. Richardson - Bugle Call

1/20/50 PFC. Solomon W. Richardson - Bugle Call