Sexo

Male

Birth date

1934-3-13

Local de nascimento

Portland OR, U.S.A.

Inducted

1952-9-15, Portland OR

Tipo de alistamento

Volunteer

Ramo das Forças Armadas

Usaf

Tipo de serviço

War

Tipo de Unidade

Combat

Unidades onde serviu

Detachment 24, 4th Weather Group (MATS)

Military specialty

Weather Observer/Ground Weather Equipment Operator

Stationed

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)

Separated

Holloman AFB NM

Unit responsibility

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

Personal responsibility

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

Major battles (if served in a war zone)

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.

Awards, medals, citations (individual or unit)

National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

Living conditions

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.

Most vivid memory of military experience

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).

Most important thing, personally, to come from military experience?

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.

Additional information

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.