I was in the service in Korea in ’51, above the 38th parallel. I was drafted with Waldo. We reported down there on Market St and First. We took our physicals in San Francisco. Went to Fort Ord to San Luis Obispo and did training. Went to Fort Mason, and ended up in Pouson together. Went to Okinawa, then Yokohama, then to Pouson and took the train up to Seoul.

Man, we blew that country up. I couldn’t believe what we needed to do it. I saw it on TV in the Olympics and you knew someone paid to build it back up. Probably we did.

We used to name the mountains out of movie actors, and then blow the tops off of them. I don’t think Waldo saw what I saw. I came out as a sergeant. I am kind of lucky to make it back. I had to spend sixteen months there. If people could see just one minute of what we go through… With this Iraq thing, I think our guys are not trained right.

It sure was cold. We slept with thermal boots and a parka in the sleeping bag. You wouldn’t believe it but you could see beer freezing in the can. We had a squad tent of ten men with a wooden floor. I just wish more guys could have come back. I lost a lot of friends over there.

Back from Korea: Married Life

I got out in ‘53. Got home in June. I wasn’t home three days and Anderson materials needed a truck driver. At first I thought: “no I’ve got $300.00 mustering – out pay. I think, fool around for awhile.”

I worked there for about three years and then went to work for myself. I got married in 57.