Retrained as a Radio Operator

Heroes Remember

Retrained as a Radio Operator

Transcript

I became interested in wireless operator, you see, radio operator. So I was sent back to Japan briefly for basic training and radio operator and I became infantry radio operator over there. So when it comes to patrols, or fighting patrols or anything like that, always me. You will come with us. You will become our radio operator. I must have been good at my work because I never, no one ever complained. I was always picked to be with certain company, so and so, I went like that all through my career [inaudible] to that. I went to an awful lot of fighting patrols and I can tell you I was never really scared when things starting to happen until after. After everything, I get back to my crawl trench and I start to shake, sweat and stuff like that, you know, but I was safe.

Description

Mr. Simon describes returning to Japan for radio training, and what his duties were once he returned to Korea.

Stephen Simon

Stephen Simon, the sixth of ten children, was born in Big Cove, New Brunswick on February 19, 1932. After finishing grade eight on the reserve, he attended school off the reserve where he faced a lot of discrimination. He often fished with his father, who was a police officer at Big Cove. Mr. Simon enlisted at the age of eighteen, took his basic training in Camp Borden, and became a qualified paratrooper on December 22, 1950. After arriving in Korea, he trained as a radio operator, and served in that capacity until the end of his military service. In 1958, Mr. Simon’s skills were highlighted when he served in a top security communications centre.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 1:29
Person Interviewed:: Stephen Simon
War, Conflict or Mission:: Korean War
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: Royal Canadian Regiment
Rank:: Sergeant

Language selection

Retrained as a Radio Operator

Heroes Remember