Robert R. Moreau
Bio
Robert R. Moreau was drafted while working for a wholesale grocery company in Faribault, MN. He had originally enlisted and served two and a half years in the Merchant Marine, but since the Merchant Marine was not part of the service, he was eligible to be drafted. He was assigned to a company building pontoon bridges across rivers and lakes in Korea. By 1951, he was a sergeant at Ft. Campbell, KY, training the cadres there. It was determined that more sergeants were needed in Korea, so in July 1951 he was shipped to Korea and assigned to the 13th Engineer Combat Battalion which was building bridges and roads as well as clearing minefields. He notes that his unit was stationed near Turkish soldiers and offers details on their interactions. Following his return to Minnesota in July 1952, he returned to working for the Consolidated Foods Corporation in the wholesale food business. When the wholesale retail division ended, he spent the next twenty years working for the Albert Lea School District.
Video Clips
From Merchant Marine to Drafted
Robert R. Moreau began his service career by enlisting in the US Merchant Marine. He shares how at the time of the Korean War, the Merchant Marine was not considered part of the service branches, and as a result, this made him eligible for the draft. He offers details on his career both as a member of the Merchant Marine and his service with the 13th Engineer Combat Battalion.
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Daily Duties in Korea
Robert R. Moreau shares he arrived in Korea as part of the 13th Engineer Combat Battalion of the 7th Division in late July 1951. He explains their primary duties were clearing minefields, building roads, and checking the Bailey Bridges which the U.S. had deployed across the rivers. He notes that these bridges need to be checked almost daily because the North Koreans frequently snuck in and loosened the bolts that held them in place.
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Experiences in Korea
Robert R. Moreau provides an account of being presented awards from a visiting general. He notes that there were Turkish troops stationed near them. He speaks about trading supplies with them.
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R and R and Returning Home
Robert R. Moreau recalls how, with each tour of duty in Korea, soldiers were offered a R and R trip to Japan. He remembers attending theaters and shopping in stores. Nearing the end of his tour, he recalls being approached by the captain of his company asking him to stay on if he would offer him a field commission. He shares how he turned in him down and returned home to marry his fiancee. He notes that there was little hoopla surrounding their return and emotionally recalls waking his parents up early in the morning upon his return.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnSGbaJFhFI&start=830&end=1063
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/robert-r-moreau#clip-4
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