Robert Kappes
Bio
Robert C. Kappes was born on September 28, 1931, during the Great Depression and was the second of six children. He attended the Stockton Public School District and graduated in 1949. He was drafted into the United States Army when they were getting everybody they could get their hands on. He was not stationed in Korea, but his work as a personal records specialist was very important for those who were returning home from the war.
Video Clips
"They Were Getting Everybody They Could Get Their Hands On"
Robert Kappes describes being drafted into the United States Army. He remembers that seventy-five percent of the college students were drafted because, as he shares, they were getting everybody they could get their hands on. He was trained in artillery and as a forward observer.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9E3VHdOmUY&start=390&end=480
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-kappes#clip-1
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I Never Made It to Korea
Robert Kappes describes how he and his fellow soldiers were headed to Korea and were deterred by a typhoon forming, forcing them to head back to Okinawa. He shares that while they were in Okinawa, the Armistice was signed. Due to this, he never actually made it to the war.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9E3VHdOmUY&start=682&end=835
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-kappes#clip-2
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Military Life Was Good for Me
Robert Kappes shares how military life was good for him. He describes the $82 a month he made. He tells how serving in the United States Army as a personal records specialist opened his eyes as it related to him making real money for the first time in his life.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9E3VHdOmUY&start=1081&end=1277
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-kappes#clip-3
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