Dad's Days in South Korea

The pictures depicting Dad's days in South Korea are included in what I call his Merchant Marine Days photo album.  While there are no captions on any of these, they were affixed into the album.


Dad joined the United States Army in Houston, Texas on 8 March 1951.   I have documentation for his unit assisting in transporting supplies to the Gila National Forest during a forest fire in July 1951.  The earliest documentation I have of him in Korea is dated February 1952 and his location is  Sokcho-si on the coast near North Korea.  

In my dad's papers is an Award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for his company, the 504th Transportation Truck Company, in which they are cited for exceptional conduct in performing services in support of combat operations in Korea from 1 March 1952 to 31 August 1952.   It states that the company carried out its assignment despite formidable obstacles such as driving long periods of time over treacherous roads through guerilla-infested territory.

I'm guessing that these pictures were taken about 1952-1953.  The pictures of the women are followed by pictures of his fellow soldiers.

I don't know if the following pictures show the results of an enemy attack or a natural disaster. 

God bless the souls of the departed.  Bodies are laid out on the ground and covered with mats until they are placed in the simple coffins for burial.  There were a few more graphic photos but I chose not to share them here.

Dad on right

The following pictures were not affixed into the album but tucked between pages and in the back cover.  I assumed they were from Korea.  However, there are two postcard photos included; one of which clearly says Fort Irwin, California.  Looking through my dad's military papers, I find that from Korea, he went to California and New Jersey, before going to Kentucky.  He married mom in their hometown in New York while on leave in August 1954.  In October 1954, he was on his way to Germany to join B Company, 63rd Tank Battalion.  So, the following pictures could be from any of these places.  I include them because I find them interesting and because dad is in a couple of them.

My dad, Walter J. Schnack

Of the two men looking at the camera, my dad is on the right.

My dad on the right.

My dad on the left.

My dad is second from the right.

The following pictures, although loose in the album, have writing on the reverse sides indicating that the event was a Company Organization Day in June 1959.  These are definitely in Germany.


Although having been hauled off to, and dropped into, a mud puddle, my dad looks like he had fun!

I found another photo album with pictures taken in Korea!  I'll publish those photos in a future post.