Howard K. Inderdahl, a Helvitia, Wisconsin native, discusses his Korean War service in the Army as a communications specialist. Inderdahl discusses being drafted in 1946 and taking the option to enlist instead. Sent to Camp Crowder (Missouri) for basic training, he mentions recovering from scarlet fever and German measles before attending radio operator school at Fort Monmouth (New Jersey). Assigned to the 3186th Signal Battalion, Inderdahl talks about duty in Yokohama (Japan), doing heavy construction work, and witnessing the destruction from the war. After his discharge, he states he spent eighteen months becoming frustrated with the civilian job market, so he reenlisted. Inderdahl talks about finishing radio school at Fort Monmouth, being shipped to Camp Drake (Japan), and seeing the ship degaussed in Hawaii along the way. Sent by train from Seoul to Pyongyang (North Korea), he talks about recovering from an illness and reassignment to the 61st Field Artillery, 1st Calvary Division. He comments on volunteering to drive a supply truck, low visibility due to road dust, and joining his unit near Sunchò†n (North Korea). Inderdahl speaks of duty with the wire section repairing telephone lines, and with the liaison section relaying messages between the front line forward observer and the headquarters battery. He mentions that the British soldiers used telephone poles for bonfires, so telephone lines usually lay alongside roads, where they could be damaged by vehicles. Inderdahl discusses his jobs as a Jeep driver, high speed radio operator, and liaison section chief. He addresses call signs, working with forward observers, and calling a cease fire if rounds fell too close to their own troops. Inderdahl describes the three days he spent in "no man's land" that earned him a Bronze Star. After five days of R&R in Japan, he tells of being promoted to communications chief, managing a sixty-man section, and tasks like making sure the men had enough boots. He talks about making sure the vehicles were fueled and the engines started and warmed on winter nights to be ready in case of retreat. Inderdahl discusses the different tasks done by Koreans who were working for the Army, such as kitchen duty and communicating surrender terms to Chinese troops. He reflects on promoting his soldiers, receiving his own promotion to master sergeant, and the extra privileges his rank entailed. Inderdahl speaks of corresponding with his family, the mail service, and, years later, using his letters as a source while writing a book about his experiences. He recalls the day he was following the infantry on foot and his jeep driver was killed by a land mine, and he mentions contacting the man's parents. Inderdahl portrays the radios he used, seeing Australian airplanes do barrel rolls over his unit after an air strike, and hearing about the Greek troops' use of hypnotism. He tells some stories about a non-commissioned officer who shot a civilian Korean woman and about a man from his unit who was taken prisoner of war on his birthday. Inderdahl comments on road conditions, radio frequencies, driving a jeep, and fixing a jeep axle. He talks about a tank-supported task force sent to relieve the 23rd Infantry Regiment in February of 1951. After being sent back to the States, he talks about teaching field communications to officer candidates at Fort Riley (Kansas) before taking his discharge.
