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Carmel, CA 1951 |
Jerome, ID 1951 |
Pusan, KOR 1951 |
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Carmel, CA 1951 |
Jerome, ID 1951 |
Pusan, KOR 1951 |
I had a couple of weeks at Jerome after my draft call to hunt,
fish and generally goof around. I reported to the Armed Services Induction
Center at Boise on 14 November 1950, fully expecting to fail for physical
reasons as I had in 1945. However, that was not the case.
We took the train to Fort Lewis, WA where we spent several days getting shots,
etc. Then, a train to For Ord, CA. I spent 6 weeks in Basic Training; then 8
weeks at Special Supply School. After graduation from the school, I had a short
leave and flew home from San Francisco.
After leave, I reported to Camp Stoneman in CA for overseas processing. After
processing, we were loaded onto a troop ship (General Howze, a naval ship, as
recalled). It took about 10 days to Japan where we spent several days
processing; then, onto another troop ship heading for Korea.
It took about four days to get to Inchon–we arrived at Inchon in April,
1950--where we were unloaded. There being no docks and the water was quite
shallow, we went ashore in an LST. As recalled, the most buildings were in
complete shambles. Un fortunately, I didn’t have a camera with me at the time,
so I was unable to record the devastation.
After several days of processing at Inchon, we were loaded on a train to head
south to Pusan–a very interesting first look at the Korean countryside. What I
remember most were the broken tanks and other equipment abandoned near the
railroad. Also, the windows in the railroad cars had been blown out and there
were no seats–just two-tier wooden bunks.
Because there were no windows and the train was pulled by a steam engine, smoke
became very heavy and uncomfortable in the cars when we went through a tunnel.
As a consequence, we had to lie on the floor to breath. Needless to say, it was
a relief to get to Pusan–one of the first things we were allowed was to shower
at a Quartermaster Shower Facility–what a relief!
I was assigned to Company Supply in the 205th Signal Repair Co., with head
quarters at Pusan. The company was quartered at an old Korean Grade School. The
company did signal repair work for all outfits in Korea. The repair part of the
company took over the school house. There was a Mess Hall and a Supply Room in a
Quonset hut. We lived in tents to start with, until more Quonsets were built.
The 205th came to Korea when the war started and had one or more forward units
in North Korea that followed along with the fighting troops to do signal repair.
They were evacuated at Wonsan along with the other troops. Some of the early
veterans were still with the company when I got there. The personnel at the time
were regular army and WWII reservists called back to duty. I, Ben Tatsumi and
Carl Lewis were the first draftees to join the company. As time progressed, most
of the personnel were draftees.
The Supply Officer at Pusan was CWO Gleason, a real old timer. I don’t recall
the names of later supply officers. The Supply Sergeant at the time was a radio
repair-man who was soon to be rotated home. He was replaced by another draftee
Sergeant, although, again, I don’t recall his name.
At Pusan, we had three young Korean girls working in the Supply Room typing
requisitions, filing, etc. All of them spoke a little English–enough to get by.
They could all type English, but one had to be careful of spelling in drafts
that were given to the girls as the typed everything exactly as it was put down!
There were garden spots in any vacant spot near the Pusan Compound. The Koreans
used “Night Soil” (human waste) for fertilizer, so we did not eat any vegetables
from the Korean gardens. What fresh vegetables and fruit we did get came from
hydroponic gardens in Japan.
Each garden spot had a “Honey Pit”—that is a pit to deposit toilet waste. Our
latrine had trap doors at the back and a Korean contractor periodically came in
and cleaned out the waste. A common complaint was that GI’s used too much paper!
At Pusan, the Mess Hall was located up against a fence. Outside the fence, there
was a large garden, with the typical “Honey Pit” in one corner. Often, even
while we were eating, Korean gardeners would be dipping waste from the pit and
pouring it along the rows of vegetables. Oh yes, it smelled great!
One interesting aspect was the latrine; at first, we used the school toilet
facilities, before a GI Latrine was built. There were a number of Korean girls
working at the Mess Hall in and various offices, etc. such as Supply. It was a
bi-sexual toilet—the Korean girls used the same facilities, often when a GI was
already there. Just came in, did her job and left. It took some getting used to
but we soon found that Koreans had a wholly different viewpoint; ordinarily,
they did not get out of site outdoors—both men and women—when they had a “job”
to do.
When we first got to Pusan, there was no shower at the compound, but there was a
Quartermaster Shower close by, which we could walk to. Soon after we got there,
someone (it may have been Tatsumi) rigged a makeshift shower, using a 5-gallon
fuel can with a shower head. We would fill it with water and leave it out in the
sun to heat. We used it in one of the vacant buildings in the compound. Two
people, if careful, could get a brief shower from 5 gallons.
Later, two airplane wing tanks were set up and filled each day with water to
warm in the sun—out in the open, of course! Eventually, a full-blown shower
facility was built in the compound.
The Koreans that worked at the compound could speak Japanese. Tatsumi also could
speak fluent Japanese, so he was often called on as in interpreter, which he
detested for some reason. The rest of us got by with “Pidgin English”.
Fortunately, we had Tatsumi in the Supply Room when more defined conversation
was needed with the Koreans.
The open ocean was located a mile or so Westerly from the compound at Pusan at
the base of a tall cliff. On occasion we walked over to the ocean just for a
change. A concrete-rock wall had been build along the cliff for some distance.
Korean refugees had built shacks at the base of the cliff on the wall. On one
occasion, we were on the edge of a Pacific Typhoon—all of the shacks were wiped
out by high waves and wind, but were quickly rebuilt.
One of the interesting aspects at the ocean was Korean women diving for seaweed.
The seaweed was a staple in the Korean diet, at least in Pusan. One thing it was
used for was to wrap Kimchi for the workers noon lunches. I suppose it was eaten
otherwise, too.
The Koreans used cows as draft animals to pull carts and wagons and to plow in
the rice fields. We seldom saw a horse being used as a draft animal.
Typically, the women carried stuff balanced on their heads; sometimes, very
large loads. The men used an “A-Frame” arrangement to carry stuff. They could
carry tremendously heavy loads. I once saw a man carrying an automobile engine
block on his “A-Frame”.
Ben Tatsumi was a Nisei from California and his Grandmother lived in Japan.
Periodically, she would send him a package of Japanese “goodies” among which was
dried seaweed; he loved it, but I could hardly stand the smell!
One of my jobs was driving a 4X6 truck every day or so to Battalion Headquarters
in Pusan, the Quartermaster and various other places as needed. I had never
driven such a truck before but nobody asked me if I had; just told me to do it.
One had to be very careful driving in Pusan as Koreans were prone to walk out in
front of a vehicle without any warning. Fortunately, we had to drive very slowly
anyhow—I think the truck had governors that limited the speed to 35 MPH, even
out on the open highway.
The company compound was located on Yong Do Island across a narrow straight of
salt water from Pusan. There was a draw bridge over the straight, so one had to
pay attention while driving. On one occasion, I pulled a stupid trick and
ignored a Korean Cop, who tried to stop me, and drove onto the bridge when it
was going up. Fortunately, I notice that when I got onto the bridge and back off
very hurriedly. After that, I paid attention to the Cops!
The Korean houses had wood-burning fire pits under the floor, which provided
very comforable winter heat. The roofs in the older houses were thatched. The
refugee schacks were built from whatever materials that could be found.
After several months at Pusan, we were moved north to Taegu, where we were
quartered with a Signal Depot Company. Again, we lived in tents until we could
get into Quonset Huts. The work at Taegu was much the same as in Pusan–general
supply chores and driving truck to various locations when needed.
I should add something about laundry. We had a Korean “mamasan” who did our
laundry at Pusan for a small amount of Korean money—incidentally, we were issued
“GI Money” rather than using regular currency. We could exchange for Korean
money at the PX to pay for laundry, etc. She followed us from Pusan to Taegu.
Typically, the women pounded the clothing with a wooden paddle during the
washing process. Much of it was done in a stream, if there was one handy.
Otherwise, I guess they used some sort of tubs. Women washing clothes in a
streams were common sights wherever we went.
The next move was to Yong Dong Po near Seoul. Once again, tents until we could
get Quonsets built. The company was quartered where there had been some kind of
factory and there were many bombed out buildings nearby. We use one of the
standing buildings for the supply room. We were attached to a Medical Supply
Depot, as recalled, which was located some distance away. That meant a short
walk for meals three times a day.
Another interesting “latrine” sidelight here. The latrine was built out in the
open near a busy street, with a roof, but no walls. By that time, we had all
become accustomed to being exposed while doing our jobs, so nobody really a paid
any attention, much less the Koreans passing by in the street.
There was a PX in Seoul, which were allowed to visit periodically. By that time,
I was no longer driving a truck, so always had to catch a ride. One of the newer
Supply Clerks, did the driving. As another side, he was an excellent
“scrounger”.
One thing he was able to get quite often were steaks from the Quartermaster, for
whatever he could trade, which selected friends cooked in the Supply Room. We
always had a buddy-or-two in the Repair Shop. Seemed somebody always needed a
private radio fixed. The standard payment from an Officer was a bottle of
whiskey, which they could get—that privilege was denied ordinary GI’s. So, the
Supply Room gang usually had their own private booze supply. Work on radios for
enlisted personnel was done for whatever could be traded;, steaks, for instance.
A good deal all the way around.
My tour of duty was up in October 1952 and I was shipped home. Back to Pusan by
train; then a short overnight on a small troop ship to Sasebo, Japan for
processing. We headed back home on another troop ship (the General Black this
time, a merchant marine vessel). This time, we went to Seattle where final
processing was done at Fort Lawton, Seattle, WA.
I should add that Mom and Dad, along with Lloyd and Lucille Claar were there
when we off-loaded from the ship—what a pleasant surprise. Processing took
several days and I was able to visit Lloyd and Lucille at Olympia several times
while waiting to get out of the army. I received my Separation Papers on 12
November 1952 and immediately took a plane for home.
At that time, we were required to serve a total of 7 years. I had 2 years of
active duty, which left 5 years for in the Reserves. An active Reserve Unit was
started in Burley, where I was working after getting out of the Army and I was
required to join. One night a week was not bad and I got a little extra cash.
However, in the Summer of 1953, we had two weeks of active duty, which was done
a Hunter Liggett Military Reservation in California; what a drag, living in
tents, using Quartermaster showers. It was over 100 degrees every day and cold
at night—worse than being in Korea.
We were supposed to go to the Yakima Firing Range for two weeks Summer Camp in
1955. However, since I was transferring to Boise, I was allowed to quit the
Reserve Unit at Burley, but was supposed to join an active outfit in Boise;
then, go to Yakima.
I deliberately delayed joining an active unit in Boise after moving in 1955.
Alice an I were married shortly after I moved and I wanted nothing further to do
with the Army! The Army kept sending me letters telling me that I had to join an
Active Reserve Unit in Boise, or go back into active service, which I ignored. I
had enough of the Army to last me a lifetime!
Finally, in September 1956, I got a letter with my early discharge, dated 18
September 1956 because I had not joined an active unit. Fortunately, I open that
letter and read it instead of tossing it into the waste basket without opening.
Thus ended my Military Service!
I had several years of GI Bill coming after separation from the service.
However, having already gone to College on my own, I never got to use any of it.
While in Korea, I had most of my pay check sent home, where my folks put it into
a savings account. As a result, when I got home, I was able to buy a car for
cash—a used, 1950 Chevrolet two-door sedan— as well as several sets of civilian
clothes. I still had enough money left over to do a little partying, etc. Most
of my time, though, was spent hunting and fishing and just laying around.
After I had been home for a while, towards the end of December, I decided to
drive up to Burley, where Clark Noble, (one of my college buddies) was working
for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). While there, Clark introduced me to
Bill Mabbutt, who was Acting District Manager, while Bill Matthews, the District
Manager was away in Wisconsin getting an advanced degree. Bill told me they had
a vacancy and wondered if I might be interested. I decided to turn in an
application, although I had fully intended to try for a job with the Forest
Service.
KOREA SERVICE PHOTOGRAPHS
After I arrived in Korea and got settled, I got a small 35MM Camera and took color slides doing my tour and I have posted color images from collection. The photo images, with appropriate captions my be viewed at: Korea 1951-52 .
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