Robert L. Jewitt
Bio
Robert Jewitt graduated from Cadiz High School in 1949. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. As part of the armored outfit at Fort Knox, he worked with school troops and the production of training films. When the war broke out in 1950, he headed to San Francisco and embarked for Korea. With the United States Army’s 70th Tank Battalion, his primary duties were as a loader and a gunner in the M4A3E8 Sherman tank. After landing in Busan, his battalion pushed up to the area of Daegu and was part of the victory at Battle of Dabudong. Soon after, his battalion pushed to Pyongyang but then pulled back shortly after reaching the city. It was not until years after the war ended before he started to share details about his experience in Korea. Yet, he is extremely proud of his role in Korea’s success.
Video Clips
Concentrate on My Role
Robert Jewitt expands on life in the M4A3E8 Sherman tank and the different jobs in the tank. He provides details about the dangers of being in the tank and the changes they experience during the cold and hot weather. He shares how, during his time in the tank, he concentrated on getting his job done and not being consumed by any fears. With this in mind, he recounts how some soldiers were consumed by their fears and they were ineffective.
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Hit By a Shell
Robert Jewitt elaborates on surviving a shell hitting his tank at Hill 518 during the Battle of Dabudong. He notes how, after being hit by the shell, the driver was killed, and one of the other men was severely wounded. He describes helping his buddy, though injured himself, to the jeep and his lieutenant taking off with the wounded soldier. Meanwhile, he remembers shells landing all around him and the mechanic beckoning him to join him underneath the bridge. While assessing the situation, he recalls a shell exploding near him and ending up with the mechanic under the bridge.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzrwGbGqq3M&start=1275&end=1571
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-l-jewitt#clip-2
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A Chaotic Withdrawal
Robert Jewitt describes his experience after the Battle of Pyongyang and General MacArthur’s push further into North Korea. He explains the attachment of his battalion to the United States Army’s 7th cavalry and receiving orders from General MacArthur to move south of Pyongyang. He continues by providing details about the overwhelming experience of the Chinese making a stand. Consequently, he elaborates on the chaos of the withdrawing troops and their role in providing some level of protection for the retreating soldiers and refugees.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzrwGbGqq3M&start=2102&end=2360
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-l-jewitt#clip-3
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Chasing Chickens
Robert Jewitt reminisces about cooking a meal for the soldiers because they did not have access to food. Shortly after arriving in a small village, he recalls seeing men unsuccessfully chasing after pigs. He shares how he then suggested they go for the chickens instead. He recalls after he prepared some of the chickens, they received word the food resources might not make it to them before they were to leave again. All in all, he remembers they were content because they had been able to find their own resources.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzrwGbGqq3M&start=2768&end=2903
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-l-jewitt#clip-4
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