I entered the U.S. Army on Oct. 21, 1947 and went to Ft. Ord, CA for 13 weeks of Basic Training. Upon completing Basic Training I shipped out to Camp Stoneman, CA to be shipped overseas to the 11th Airborne Division in Japan. As I had a 10-day leave at Christmas 1947, I didn't get to go back home again for a while.

After arriving at Camp Zama in Japan, those who were going to the 11th boarded a train to go to a comp at Sendia. Those who were choosing to report to the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment went to Camp Sapparo. Once there, we were placed in a company. I was assigned to the Weapon Platoon Machine Gun Squad. All the new guys, like myself, who had not been to jump school, were taken to an old Japanese airfield that the 11th Airborne converted to a Jump School. We had only two weeks to qualify. I graduated in June 1948 with my Parachute Badge on my chest with one medal - the Army Occupation Medal

In 1949 our division was reassigned to Camp Campbell, Kentucky (later changed to Fort Campbell). On March 10, 1950 I re-enlisted for 6 years and was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division in Japan and upon arrival was assigned to the 31st Infantry Regiment (Polar Bears) "G" Company.

On June 25, 1950 we had a Regiment Formation and were informed that the North Koreans had invaded South Korea and that a Regiment from the 24th Infantry Division was shipped out to help the South Korean Army. The Regiment Commander had all troops with more than 2 years of service (like myself) step out in front of their Companies. We were put on a train and shipped to South Korea to join the 24th Division. We proceeded to Korea right after the 1st of July, where I was assigned to "L" Company 34th Infantry Regiment. My first night on the front line I was pulled off the line and, along with another private, sent to guard the Mayor's house that night. The next day I went back on the line.

My Regiment was at he Battle of Kum River and we pulled off the line and marched back to Taejon. On the 20th of July we were being over-run so we pulled back South. Everyday after that we were in a different place, working our way back to the Pusan perimeter. On the night of the 29th we stopped at a village to get some rest. Early in the morning of the 30th, the North Koreans attacked the village. We had to fight our way across a river to where one of the Regiments had set up a perimeter (one of our platoons was captured). We made it back to the other Regiment where some trucks were waiting. Most of my company was able to get a ride back to the mountains we were originally heading towards on the Pusan perimeter. I was one of eight men, including my company commander, who walked over half of a day to the mountains outside the Chinjun. Late that afternoon, I was on of the few men who went down to get some ammo. The truck was late and, while we were waiting three mortar shells were fired at us. One went over us (we all dove into ditches), a second went to the side of us, and the third round came into my ditch and blew me into another ditch. I tried to move and found I couldn't, as I had been hit from my head to my toes. A Regiment medic to a battalion aid station dispatched me. I woke up later to find myself in Pusan. I returned to the States in August and was shipped to William Beaumont Army Hospital at Ft. Bliss, TX, outside El Paso. In 1951 I was released from the hospital and went to Ft. Mead, Maryland for duty. Two weeks after reporting in I was back in the hospital and later shipped to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

In 1952 I was out of the hospital again and was shipped o Fort Campbell, Kentucky. I applied for overseas duty. After I was checked over by the staff of doctors at the post hospital, I was found to be physically fit for duty and I shipped overseas to Japan. I was assigned to an Army Aviation Unit that did maintenance and supply for units in Japan and Korea (we earned the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal).

In 1955 I returned to the States and was shipped to Fort Sill, OK, where I was assigned to the 26th Transportation Company (Helicopter) as an Aircraft Part Supply Sergeant.

In 1956, after I re-enlisted for six years, my company shipped me to San Marcus, TX Air Force Base to take 14 weeks of Helicopter Maintenance training. Upon completion, I went back to Ft. Sill to get ready to go to Germany with my Company. We shipped out to a Navy base outside Mobile, AL, where we loaded our helicopter on an aircraft carrier and went to Germany.

In 1957 I was transferred from my company and assigned to a field maintenance company where I was promoted to E6 and made Chief Aircraft Maintenance Inspector. In 1960 I returned to the States and was assigned to the Aviation Test Board at Ft. Rucker, AL. While there, I went to two factory schools, one on the H34 and the other on the H37B. I also flew as crew chief on some of the tests we made.

On one test we were flying to New Orleans when a distress call came over our radio that a Navy Pilot had crashed in the woods in FL. We saw the smoke and set down as close as we could. The other crew chief and I found the pilot, got him onto our helicopter and flew him to the closest Naval Base, which was at Pensacola, FL. We were later given the Sikorsky Wing "S" for the rescue operation.

In 1963 I re-enlisted for six years and was shipped to Germany and assigned to the 11th transportation Co. (Helicopter) where I became crew chief again. In 1965 the Army gave the aviation units authority to give out Aircraft Crewman Badges. In 1966 I was grounded for hearing loss.

In 1967 I returned to the States and was assigned to Ft. Benning, Georgia, as a Special Equipment Spare Parts Supervisor and I worked in the Post Supply Office. I went to Walter Reed Hospital Hearing Center where I had two ear operations and spent the last two months of 1967 in a hospital. Upon getting out of the hospital I put in for my retirement. My doctor put me back in the hospital for ten months and then I was released. My retirement papers were forwarded to the U.S. Army and I was approved for retirement on February 29, 1969.

Awards and Citations:

• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Purple Heart
• Army Commendation
• Army Good Conduct w/6 loops
• Army Occupation w/Japan Bar
• National Defense Service w/Oak Leaf Cluster
• Korean Service w/2 battle stars
• Korean War Service
• Army Presidential Unit Commendation
• Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
• Korean Presidential Unit Citation
• Parachute Badge 1948
• Aircraft Crewman Badge 1965

After I retired from the military, worked for Bosco Bolt RBW Company, and Nouveau Eyewear Company. I did some volunteering, including 500 hours with the VA hospital (awarded the Healthcare Giver of the Year 1987 by the Department of Texas VFW), 9,300 hours at Medical Center of Plano (First Humanitarian Volunteer of the Year 1996), 8 years with Plano Citizen's Policy Academy Alumni and many years working with the Senior Friends/H2U group at the Medical Center of Plano.