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I enlisted into the U.S. Army in October 1953 after graduating from St. Anthony High School on the island of Maui, HI, to get the benefits of the GI Bill.

After completing basic training at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland, I attended and completed the Automotive Fuel and Electric System Repairman Course. I completed the course in April of 1954 and was then deployed to South Korea.

After arriving by troopship in Japan, I was flown from Tachikawa Air Force Base to Kimpo Airbase near Seoul. I arrived at Yong Dong Po Replacement Center, near Incheon, and was then assigned to the 538 Engineer Field Maintenance Company in Dong Duchon, across the river from Camp Casey.

Our company supported the United Nations forces with the upkeep of all types of heavy and light diesel and gasoline engines, such as caterpillars and tractors. My duty was with the Small Gasoline Engine Shop. Our responsibilities were to repair and maintain gasoline engines that powered generators and produced electricity for various companies. Training ROK soldiers to fix gasoline engines was also part of the company’s duties.

After serving in Korea for 16 months, the regular tour, I was reassigned to the Automotive School at Fort Ord, California. On September 13, 1956, I was honorably discharged with the rank of Sp3(T).

For serving my country, I was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, U.N. Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

On a “Revisit Korea Program” in September 2019, I was awarded the “AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE “ medal.

John Romias (Right) and his nephew, Retired USAF, Col. Ryan Orian (Left) at the KDVA Korea Revisit Program 2023.