Virgil Malone
Bio
Virgil Malone enlisted in the Air Force in 1950 as he felt the draft was coming after him. He had hoped to become a Marine, but his color blindness and lack of teeth prevented him from joining. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, he was sent to Tyndall Air Force Base for training as an Air Policeman. He was deployed to Korea in 1951 where he guarded the 5th Air Force Headquarters at Daegu. He frequently worked in the stockade while stationed in Daegu. Virgil Malone was discharged from the Air Force in 1953, and upon his return, worked in a furniture manufacturing plant as a buffer.
Video Clips
Life in Daegu During the Korean War
Virgil Malone shares photos he took while stationed in Daegu, South Korea. These photos illustrate the living and working conditions of the South Koreans in Daegu area. They touch upon the economic disparity among South Koreans during the war; some lived in farmhouses, while others lived in huts.
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Avoiding the Draft
Virgil Malone knew that the draft was after him, so he tried to get into the Marines, but due to color blindness and missing a lot of teeth, he was denied enlistment. He recalls not wanting to be in a foxhole with the Army, so he joined the Air Force with a friend. He notes he was not a stellar student so he knew little about Korea at the time of his enlistment.
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Air Policeman
Virgil Malone attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. He was later sent to Tyndall Air Force Base for training as an Air Policeman, the Air Force's version of military police. When he was in Daegu, he shares he was attached to the 5th Division to guard the headquarters, but nothing near the front lines. He notes, later he was moved to Seoul when the headquarters moved there.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhoREsYUljQ&start=249&end=387
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/virgil-malone#clip-3
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A Typical Day of an Air Policeman
Virgil Malone explains a typical day in Daegu included riding shotgun to protect the military vehicles. from guerilla warfare activity along all the roads. He shares there were three shifts each day in the two compounds surrounding 5th Headquarters which members of the Air Police took turns standing guard the best they could.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhoREsYUljQ&start=643&end=830
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/virgil-malone#clip-4
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Life in Daegu
Virgil Malone notes that while stationed guarding the 5th Air Force Headquarters in Daegu, he was far from the fighting and dangers of being on the front line. He describes life on the compound including living quarters, the food, and the coffee.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhoREsYUljQ&start=1202&end=1485
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/virgil-malone#clip-5
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