First Night

Heroes Remember

First Night

Transcript

The American's had all these big persuaders we called guns and they were used every night. The first night I was there they start opening up with these big eight inch guns, and what in the hell are we into now? But they were firing over us into the enemy lines. They would call for fire, and that's where I lost most of my hearing I guess was... Interviewer: What did it sound like? Well, it was the old tent's they used to wet the tops, and they would just be flapping from the guns opening up. You'd hear this scream of the shells go, the main projectile going over. Interviewer: Screaming, it would actually be like a screaming sound? Yeah, just cutting through the air is what it is. Interviewer: Wow, and that was the first night you were there? Yeah that was my first night, yeah.

Description

Mr. Tupper talks about the Americans firing their guns and what it sounded like.

John Tupper

Mr. Tupper was born September 4th, 1929 in Kingston, Nova Scotia. No stranger to the sacrifices of war, his father was wounded during his service in the Second World War. This however did not deter Mr. Tupper from enlisting in the Signal Corps in 1950. He trained as a driver and a lineman, and his first posting brought him to Fort Churchill where he tested equipment in the barrens under severe cold. After this Mr. Tupper went home and was married, but his time home was cut short as he was called to Korea in 1952, having to leave behind his wife and first son who was only two months old. Once in Korea he was responsible for repairing communication lines that had come under fire, and even worked through the attack on Hill 355. Unfortunately Mr.Tupper was wounded in a gasoline explosion and was in hospitals for three months before returning home. Mr.Tupper recovered from his injuries and stayed with the army until 1956 with no regrets, and now lives in Whitehorse. His legacy of service is continued by his daughter who is currently serving with the Canadian Forces Signal Corps Unit.

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