Sexo

Male

Fecha de Nacimiento

1934-3-13

Lugar de Nacimiento

Portland OR, U.S.A.

Inducted

1952-9-15, Portland OR

Tipo de Alistamiento

Volunteer

Afiliación Militar

Usaf

Tipo de servicio prestado

War

Tipo de unidad militar

Combat

Unidades a las que sirvió

Detachment 24, 4th Weather Group (MATS)

Especialidad militar

Weather Observer/Ground Weather Equipment Operator

Asignado

USA - Parks AFB, CA (Basic Training); Chanute AFB, IL (Weather Training); Eglin AFB, FL (Weather Support); Portland AFB, OR (Weather Support); Holloman AFB, NM; - Kimpo AFB, Korea (Weather Support)

Retirado

Holloman AFB NM

Responsabilidad en la unidad

Provide weather support for aircraft at the respective Air Force Base.

Responsabilidad individual

Prepare and release weather equipment attached to balloons for tracking and obtaining weather data for aircraft at respective Air Force Base.

Batallas principales (si sirvió en una zona de guerra)

I joined the Air Force during the Korean War. By the time I got to Korea in December 1954, there was a cease fire in effect. President Eisenhower took office in January 1955 and declared Korea a non-combat zone.

Reconocimientos, medallas, menciones (individuales o de la unidad)

National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

Condiciones de Vida

Living conditions at stateside bases were typical Air Force quarters. Housing for the Weather Detachment at Kimpo AFB in Korea was off-base, in tent cabins and very cold in the winter.

Recuerdo más vívido de la experiencia militar

While in Korea, a classmate at weather school who later attended pilot training, arrived at Kimpo AFB. While on a reconnaissance mission, Pilot Bumpas strayed across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and was shot down and taken prisoner in North Korea. A few weeks prior to this incident, the new Military Standards of Conduct was initiated. Pilot Bumpas was the first military person captured and required to abide by the new Military Standards of Conduct (to give only his name, rank and serial number as a captive).

¿En lo personal, qué obtuvo de su experiencia militar?

I grew up and became an adult. I also saw living conditions in Korea that reminded me that we in the United Sdtates should be thankful for our land and freedom we are able to enjoy.

Información adicional

The attached photo is myself in uniform with my cousin (Masaaki Saito) in Japan at a train station in 1955. I met him during a Rest & Recuperation (R & R) leave from Korea.