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From My Service in Korea, I learned… Ricky James

567 Medical Ambulance, 43 RD MASH, Uijonbu, Korea

I arrived in Korea in early September 1969 after completing basic training and AIT at Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. I flew from Jackson, Mississippi to Ft. Folk, Louisiana. Ft. Polk was a rude awakening, but Ft. Sam Houston was even worse! I had registered as a “Conscientious Objector” so I never carried a weapon, but I sure remember being shot at with those 50 calls shooting 4 feet over your head. I was in the slot to go to Vietnam but because of some ankle injuries I was put in another slot and got orders for Korea.

For a country boy who had never traveled further than Texas, landing at Kimpo and seeing all those camouflaged jets and anti-aircraft guns was a scary place to be. After processing, I was sent to 567 Medical Ambulance as a medic and ambulance driver. I had to get a Korean driver’s license and had to learn my way around the area. I was sent around Christmas to the 2nd platoon at 44 MASH for a few months! Early 1970, the CO called me in and told me he was sending me TDY to 335 Maintenance / 2/71 Hawk Missile unit as their Medic (Doc) which I did until late October of 1970.

I made daily runs up to 2nd Division clinic which was Camp Howze. I made courier runs right before I came home and instructed new drivers where to go! The speed limit was a whopping 25 miles per hour! My time with the Maintenance unit and Hawk unit was the best part of my tour! I pretty much worked for myself! The CO had instructed me that he only wanted to see me on payday! Even though I only had rank as a Spec 4, being the only medic (Doc) provided me with the clout of an officer.

I was able to meet some American Missionaries who were from Louisiana and spent some weekends with them so it was a great benefit to be able to see them. Because I never took any leave, the CO called me in and told me he was extending my tour for 30 days, to which I inquired why. He asked me if I would like to get out of service 5 or 6 months earlier, I replied “Sure, that sounded good to me”. I departed Korea on November 7, 1970, and arrived at Ft. Lewis for out-processing. I then flew to Jackson, Mississippi to await the arrival of my folks and my future wife. I had an Army buddy in Korea who was from Louisiana and now lives in Mississippi about 1 1/2 hours from me and we have stayed in contact all these years.

I have had a couple of opportunities to travel back to Korea but have not been able to do so. Memories of Korea are still with me, the harsh cold of winter and the monsoon rains that never seemed to end. There were at least 150 incursions by North Korea that always kept us on alert. Most all, the bases that I went to are gone or have been turned over to South Korea.  Ricky James, Florence, Mississippi

What did you learn from serving in Korea? Let us know –

Sharing your experiences from serving in Korea can be a powerful way to connect with others who have had similar experiences. By sharing your story, you may be able to help others who are currently serving in Korea or who are preparing to do so. You can share insights about the culture, the people, and the challenges you faced while serving. Your story can also help to shed light on the sacrifices that service members and their families make in order to protect our freedoms. So, if you have a story to share, we encourage you to take the time to put it down in writing and send it to KDVA.MyServiceInKorea@gmail.com along with any photos that help to tell your story.

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