Pete Balma: Trying to stay alive
marc.zarefsky2017-09-06T22:06:07-05:00When Pete arrived in Korea, fierce fighting was still going on, back and forth for inches of ground. He spent 14 months there before returning home.
Jess B. Holcomb: A life-saving Bible
marc.zarefsky2017-08-05T11:37:33-05:00Jess Holcomb served in Korea and was part of the second landing near Inchon. He received three Purple Hearts because he was 'shot once and blown up twice.'
Bill Lillwitz: 210 missions in 6 months
marc.zarefsky2018-01-09T10:52:56-06:00Bill Lillwitz flew 210 missions, received the Bronze Star and 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses. He was shot down once and had to bail out twice.
Joe McCormack Jr.: Dental assistant
marc.zarefsky2017-08-05T11:23:20-05:00Joe served from November of 1951 to September 1952 in Korea as a dental hygienist. He found out about the job after he talked to a pretty receptionist.
Erwin Rabin: Aloha and Mahalo
marc.zarefsky2017-08-05T11:16:44-05:00Erwin Rabin served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. He spent six months in Korea at the end of the war. He was then assigned as a Company clerk in Hawaii.
Jim G. Vancura Jr.: From the frying pan to the fire
marc.zarefsky2017-08-05T09:47:00-05:00Jim Vancura served from 1943 to 1946. He served on an amphibious ship that received 2 battle stars. Tours included France, Italy, Africa, Okinawa and China.
Al Vosylius: Back in Germany
marc.zarefsky2017-08-05T09:40:42-05:00Al Vosylius, a native of Lithuania, served in the Army from 1952 to 1954. He worked with the artillery testing team of the US Army 5th Corps.
Wally P. Wienert: Getting ready to fly
marc.zarefsky2017-08-05T09:32:04-05:00Wally Wienert served in the Navy from 1948 to 1952. He was assigned to the USS Boxer CV21, a carrier that made four trips back and forth to Korea.
Lawrence Facchinello: A sense of duty
marc.zarefsky2017-08-04T14:59:29-05:00Lawrence served as a heavy equipment operator in Korea. He helped rebuild the Han River waterway and worked with Korean contractors who spoke no English.
Andy Dziagwa: Trumpeter of the band
marc.zarefsky2017-08-03T14:42:07-05:00Andy was in combat operations code-named Killer and May Massacre, received the Purple Heart, and is in the International Polka Association Hall of Fame.
Pascal A. ‘Pat’ Gerard: Keeping a secret
marc.zarefsky2017-07-19T09:42:18-05:00Can you keep a secret? For many years Pat Gerard wasn’t allowed to talk about what he did during his time in service. But today, he can speak freely.
Walter Piekosz: Learning to swim
marc.zarefsky2017-07-10T19:55:14-05:00Walter Piekosz was born in Chicago in 1925, one of nine children. At age 17, he decided to join the Navy. He joined even though he didn’t know how to swim.
Roy Stanek: From engineer to photographer
marc.zarefsky2017-07-10T15:16:15-05:00Roy Stanek thought he would be an engineer during the Korean War, but quickly found himself taking enemy fire during 18 missions as an aerial photographer.
William (Bill) Curry: An ear to the action
marc.zarefsky2017-07-09T22:48:19-05:00Bill Curry used his top security clearance and his training as a radio operator to monitor and scan radio signals during the Korean War.
Raymond Wirth: Boiler tender and fireman
marc.zarefsky2017-07-09T22:49:05-05:00Raymond Wirth spent 39 months based in Japan on the USS Valley Forge, which supported air operations against advancing Chinese and North Korean forces.
Bernard Ogarek: Hollywood Marine
marc.zarefsky2017-07-10T22:38:37-05:00U.S. Marine Corps Korean War Chicago, IL [...]
Frank Chrzan: Too young to serve
marc.zarefsky2017-07-10T22:45:36-05:00U.S. Marine Corps World War II Mt Prospect, [...]
Pete Balma: On the front line
marc.zarefsky2017-07-10T22:57:32-05:00U.S. Army Korean War Zion, IL [...]
Willard Fruits: ‘Take me’
marc.zarefsky2017-07-07T12:37:22-05:00Willard Fruits wanted to get away from farm life in Missouri, so in 1951, at age 19, he set out on a journey to seek a change.
Milton Diller: A photographer’s eye
marc.zarefsky2017-06-16T22:36:52-05:00As a photo interpretation specialist during the Korean War, Airman Second Class Milton (Milt) Diller never left U.S. soil, but without his service, there’s no telling how many lives might have been lost nearly 6,000 miles away.