Observation Post Protection
Heroes Remember
Observation Post Protection
Transcript
Description
Mr. McKinney describes in general why an Observation Post (OP)drew enemy fire, and one occasion when a tank came forward and neutralized an enemy sniper who had targeted his OP trench.
James McKinney
James McKinney was born on August 17, 1932 in Winnipegosis, Manitoba. Eventually his family settled in Gladstone, where he finished high school. Along with a brother and two friends, he enlisted in the army at Winnipeg. Mr. McKinney joined the artillery, took a jumper's course, and transferred to the airborne artillery. He also studied logarithms at night school during his basic training, and went to Korea as a Tech Able with the 1st Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Heavy Artillery. In this capacity, he ranged guns on enemy positions and acted as an observer in the observation post trench.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 1:47
- Person Interviewed:
- James McKinney
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Korean War
- Battle/Campaign:
- Korea
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- 1st Field Artillery Regiment
- Rank:
- Sergeant
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Mr. McKinney describes tangling with another jumper during training, and being saved from a head first landing by a timely gust of wind. He recalls feeling no fear until after the landing.
Aspects of Trench Life
Mr. McKinney describes Korea as being like World War One because it was trench warfare. He goes on to discuss what it was like in the bunkers – excessive heat or rain, rodents and fickle stoves.
Friendly Fire at Hill 355
Mr. McKinney describes watching, from an adjacent position, the Royal Canadian Regiment being overrun on Hill 355, and having to call in artillery fire on the Canadian position. He describes his fear despite not being under direct attack.
Losing Friends
Mr. McKinney describes losing two friends who had stepped on a land mine, one of whom he'd just helped write a marriage proposal letter to his girlfriend. After that, he distanced himself from any close friendships.
Boring Diversions
Mr. McKinney describes how the boredom of Korean life led to some less than interesting diversions such as stuffing sandbags, breaking rocks with a sledge, and walking miles to get a shower.
Equipment Issues
Mr. McKinney compares the weaponry used by Canadian and North Korean forces, in particular our superior artillery and their better automatic weapons. He also comments on his 'unique' uniform.
Reintegration in Canada was Tough
Mr. McKinney describes how anti-social he had become during the war. He discusses how socially inept he felt after his arrival home, and how he felt he'd outgrown his friends.
The “Forgotten War”
Mr. McKinney discusses how unaware the people in his community were about the war in Korea. He then describes being told to tell the story themselves to raise awareness of the Korean War.
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