Korean War Legacy Project

Walter Bradford Chase, Jr.

Bio

Walter Bradford Chase, Jr., enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on March 25, 1952. After two years of serving in the Marines, he switched his service to that of the United States Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) in 1954. His service in Korea began after the ceasefire but at a time when there was still concern over the hostile conditions on the peninsula. He arrived on May 15, 1954, at K-14, just outside of Seoul. He was attached to the 308th for just four days at CIC headquarters in Yong Dong Po and was later assigned to the 7th Infantry Division on the front line about six miles north of the 7th Division headquarters. The duties of those in the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) included detecting treason, sedition, subversive activity, and disaffection. Their main goals were to prevent espionage and sabotage by the enemy within the U.S. Army establishment and over the areas in which their regiment had jurisdiction. As an E-4 Corporal, he worked daily with the police chiefs in the nearby villages and developed relationships with many of the villagers. This allowed him to begin to learn the language and gain insight into the Korean people. He ended his career working as a special agent in the U.S. Treasury Department and working for the Internal Revenue Service.

Video Clips

Korea Reminded Me of My Childhood

Walter Bradford Chase, Jr., grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, during the Great Depression. He shares what the city was like and the challenges his family faced during one of the most challenging economic time periods in our history. He emotionally recalls how Korea reminded him a lot of his early years as a child growing up in Boston.

Tags: Home front,Living conditions

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I Fell in Love with the Korean People

Walter Bradford Chase, Jr., shares how he fell in love with the Korean people during his time in the country. He recalls being in a position where he had daily contact with the Korean people which he notes the average soldier did not experience. He offers details on the living conditions of the Korean people when he was stationed there after the cease-fire.

Tags: Civilians,Food,Impressions of Korea,Living conditions,Physical destruction,Poverty,South Koreans

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Transferring to the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC)

Walter Bradford Chase, Jr., joined the Marine Corps on March 25, 1952. After serving in the Marines for two years, he transferred to the Counter Intelligence Corps of the U.S. Army. He shares his decision to make the change and what the requirements for anyone interested in being part of the CIC at the time had to meet. He notes that his service in Korea came after the cease-fire but at a time when many politicians were fearful of a potential World War III.

Tags: North Koreans,South Koreans

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The Job of the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC)

Walter Bradford Chase, Jr., served as part of the U.S. Army's Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) following the cease-fire. He explains he was attached to the 31st Infantry Regiment. He offers details on the main functions of the CIC and the challenges he faced as a young member of the organization when encountering those who outranked him.

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Doing His Job

Walter Bradford Chase, Jr., shares that he served as part of the Army's Counter Intelligence Corps beginning in 1954. Although he does not recall any big cases as there were not too many spies at the time, he does recall an occasion when an indigenous worker on the base was suspected of taking confidential documents and another when a code book for messages went missing.

Tags: South Koreans

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