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Description
Oral history interview of John Thomas Derrick. Interview conducted by Chris Burns at Melbourne, Florida.
Log
0:23 Introduction Credits; 0:23-2:37 Beginning of interview - Introduction of Mr. Derrick - discusses family - biographical questions; 2:38-5:37 Reasons for enlisting in military - details and timeline of enlistment; 5:38-7:55 Discusses first tour of duty in Korea, 1952-53 - first assignments - began by cleaning weapons - location in Korea; 7:56-8:43 Training in Oklahoma for 10 weeks - state-side duty for 3 months in Colorado, Camp Carson; 8:44-10:39 Remembering instructors - transition from civilian life to military life - basic training - academic training; 10:40-12:10 Reaction to news of going to Korea - application of training - details training operations - duty rotations; 12:11-12:49 Specific duties in Korea; 12:50-16:28 Training for specific jobs - building bunkers - sedentary lifestyle - fired on by Chinese and North Korean during 'chow time' - logistic of Battery Unit; 16:29-17:57 First day in Korea - assignments made based on their interests; 17:58-19:24 Weather; extreme cold in winter, heavy rain in summer - put snorkels on trucks to get through flooded rivers; 19:25-21:22 Humorous event - prank played on a fellow soldier - collecting 'muzzle blasts;' 21:33-22:20 Second tour of Korea - living conditions on base; 22:21-23:58 Nuclear capability - weapon storage - protection of weaponry with K-9 dogs - dogs reaction to other soldiers that were not K-9 handlers; 23:59-28:13 Overall reaction to and method for being chosen for second tour of Korea, 1966-67 - why Korea and not Vietnam - difference between two tours - remembrance of General J. Lawton Collins - thoughts on troops still in Korea; 28:14-30:30 Troop morale 1st tour - feelings amongst fellow soldiers was apathetic - troops turned to drugs and alcohol - trial council for soldier found with marijuana; 30:31-34:26 Troop morale 2nd tour - difference between 1st and 2nd - problems with local villages, 'boom towns' - problems between soldiers and women in the villages - orders from General about behavior with women - 'donut dollies' and R&R; 34:27-39:00 Remembering his last days of both tours - 1st tour, on a train heading south and saw another train full of prisoners passing them, heading north - 2nd tour, Korean orphan education program - emotional goodbye; 39:01-39:57 Lasting friendships after the war - Korean street language - language barrier; 39:58-42:17 Details of point system rotations - pros and cons of point system - troops' feelings about point system; 42:18-44:12 Being in the center of the line - experience with combat in the 1st tour - discusses brother-in-law who fought in 'pork chop hill;' 44:13-44:57 H&I fire, 'harrassing and interdiction' - effectiveness of H&I fire; 44:58-48:26 Transition coming back home - demoralizing memory of General Motors - low supply of artillery shells due to strike - explaining different types of shells - feeling the country wasn't behind the war; 48:27-49:52 Life between two tours - Guided Missiles School - involved in Missile Test Unit in Washington D.C., time at Fort Mead in Maryland - assignments in Germany; 49:53-50:53 Transition after coming home in 1967 - chose next assignment - moved the family from Michigan to Alaska - worked in combat developments for cold weather; 50:53-54:06 Explains how war has changed his outlook on war in general - opintions about today's military; 50:07[54:07]-55:41 Talks about Veterans organizations he has joined - volunteer activities - National and State Park works - relations with other veterans today; 55:41-56:40 Final thoughts about his own military service - end of interview.
Date of Birth
1928-05-14
Place of Birth
El Paso (Tex.)
Gender
Male
Race
White - Non Hispanic
Home State
Texas
War or Conflict
Korean Conflict
Status
Veteran
Begin/End date of Service - 1st
1952-03-11
Type
Video; MovingImage
1953-04-21
Entrance into Service
Commissioned
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Unit of Service
300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
Location of Service
Korea (South)
Highest Rank
First Lieutenant; 1LT
Prisoner of War
No
Service Related Injury
No
Battles
Unspecified
Medals
Unspecified
Achievements
Battery Forward Observer & Battery Offiocer Liasion Officer - 6th ROK Inf. Div Ass't S-3, Fire Direction Ctr, 300th AFA Bn Battery Commander, Btry B, 300th AFA Bn - 4 months
Note
Unit was in defensive position training ROK units while in direct support of 6th ROK Division, II ROK Corps. Served again in Korea along the DMZ from Sept. 1966-October 1967. Part of I Corps Arty - 8" cannon artillery(Nuclear capable). At this time I was battalion executive officer(eleven months) & battalion commander(grade of major) for two months./ - Unit was 2/76th FA, I Corps Arty, 8th Army. Served in Central Front N. of Hwacheon Reservoir near Kumhwa - II ROK Corps.
City of Birth
El Paso
Country of Birth
United States
Interviewer
Burns, Chris
Interview Date
3-28-2011
Location of Interview
Melbourne, FL.
Subjects
Derrick, John T.; Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives; United States. Army
Collection Description
Contains logs, audio and video recordings of interviews with Central Florida's veterans as part of a history class project for the students at the University of Central Florida (UCF). The UCF Community Veterans History Project(CVHP) started in fall 2010. It collects, preserves, and makes accessible to the public the experiences of Central Florida's veterans so that future generations will better understand the realities of conflict. It is a collaborative endeavor supported by multiple departments and offices at UCF. The veterans' histories are archived and made digitally available through the UCF library and selected materials are contributed to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.
Contributor Affiliation / Organization
RICHES; University of Central Florida
Contributors
Burns, Chris
Length of Interview
65 minutes
Publisher
Department of History, University of Central Florida
Type
video
Rights
All rights are held by the respective holding institution. This material is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. For permission to reproduce and/or for copyright information contact Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, (407) 823-2576. http://library.ucf.edu/about/departments/special-collections-university-archives/
Repository
University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
Contributing Project
UCF Community Veterans History Project
Document Type
Interview
Recommended Citation
Central Florida, RICHES of, "Derrick, John Thomas interview" (2011). Veterans Oral Histories. 37.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/veteransoralhistories/37