Willard L. Dale
Bio
Willard Louis Dale enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on May 27, 1952. He intended to follow in the footsteps of his older brother who had been drafted in 1950. He traveled aboard a U.S. Auxiliary Personnel Attack (APA) ship from San Diego. He recalls the temperature being -14° when they landed in Pusan. From Pusan, he was transported to his duty station near Panmunjeom and the front lines where he joined the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines Weapons Company. Both he and his brother served simultaneously in the same area in Korea until his brother was sent home because the two brothers could not serve at the same time in the same area. After leaving Korea, Willard served in Vietnam before his military career came to an end. After serving in Vietnam, he became an ordained pastor serving three churches in Missouri and later a chaplain with the North American Mission Board serving as part of disaster relief throughout the United States. He is active in several veterans organizations and serves as a chaplain in most. He is proud to have served in Korea and would do it again.
Video Clips
Early Days in Korea
William L. Dale shares he left for Korea on November 12, 1952. He remembers the temperature being negative fourteen degrees when he landed in Pusan. He recounts staying that first night in an enormous tent with about one thousand eight hundgred others and details his movement to his duty station with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, Weapon Company into the area near Panmunjeom and the Imjin River. He recalls one engagement with the enemy that lasted about six and a half hours.
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Duty to Serve
Willard L. Dale confesses there was not a soul serving in Korea that was not scared. He explains he and his brother, Martin, both served in the same area while they were in Korea, and he recounts being able to share Christmas dinner together in 1952. He believes it was his duty to serve his country's mission to assist the Korean people.
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Dangerous Night
Willard L. Dale believes soldiers in Korea faced danger every day until the armistice was agreed upon. He shares an account of one of the potentially most dangerous events during his time in Korea.
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Do Your Job Like You Are Supposed to Do
Willard L. Dale ranked as a Private First Class while serving in Korea. He explains he learned respect and the work ethic one needs to do his job like he should. He recalls the pay rate while in Korea and shares he did enjoy a five-day R and R in Japan before returning to the U.S. on Dec. 1, 1953.
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Still Serving
Willard L. Dale recalls receiving a calling from God to preach the gospel while stationed in Okinawa after his time in Korea. He shares how a year after his retirement from the military in 1973, he was ordained as a pastor in Missouri and served three churches in Missouri. He remembers being approached by the North American Mission Board in 2004 to become a chaplain assisting with disaster relief. He shares he is an active member of several veterans organizations where he serves as chaplain for the organization.
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