Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing James T. Markalunas Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: VMR-152 (Marine Transport Squadron), 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW); VMFN-513 (Night Fighter Squadron), Marine Air Group 12 (MAG)
- Location of Service: El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, California; K1, K3, K18, and K8, Korea
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/53605
While in high school in Aspen, Colorado, James Markalunas worked in a power plant and later studied engineering. After he enlisted in late 1950, the Marines assigned him to a transport squadron to maintain radios, based on his background. In Korea, he was based in Pusan. The planes he worked on provided air cover for the 1st Marine Division and ground support, as well as making interdiction runs and dropping night-time flares. (The latter missions were the only time he got into the air.) Markalunas found the weather in Korea to be another kind of enemy, as the extreme conditions played havoc with his equipment.
Interview / Recording
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PlayAs a 12-year-old in 1942 Aspen, Colorado, following Army trainees through town. 00:09:08.9 - 00:11:57.5
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PlayIn 1950, he was eligible for the draft; aware of the early events of the Korean War; enlisted in the Marine Reserves, was called to active duty; terrified in his first days at boot camp; learning to keep his head down. 00:16:43.6 - 00:21:08.3
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PlayIn high school in Aspen, he worked at a power plant on relief shifts; was still working there in 1950, taking courses in radio technology, learning electrical and engineering work; this background directed him into radio work in a transport squadron; shipping out to Korea on a WWII vintage ship. 00:23:50.1 - 00:29:38.3
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PlaySquadron's mission was interdiction of troop movements and ground support for 1st Marine Division and night cover for some Air Force units, plus air support; he was doing radio maintenance; went up a few times with flare planes to help drop the flares; got airsick on first flight. 00:31:59.6 - 00:35:38.6
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PlayThough they were transitioning from prop planes to jets, the "sweetheart" plane was the Corsair, a "great workhorse;" radios were still unreliable tube-based technology; servicing aircraft in the winter; snow removal not factored in; weather was at best "deplorable." 00:35:52.6 - 00:41:17.0
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PlayOn guard duty on Christmas Eve; attended midnight Mass; sit-down dinner; reads the impressive menu of what was served that day. 00:46:03.1 - 00:48:39.3
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- James T. Markalunas Collection
Names
- Merritt, Richard O.
- Roaring Fork Veterans History Project, Aspen Historical Society
- Anderson, Corby
- Markalunas, James T.
Home State
- Colorado
Headings
- - Markalunas, James T.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: VMR-152 (Marine Transport Squadron), 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW); VMFN-513 (Night Fighter Squadron), Marine Air Group 12 (MAG)
- Location of Service: El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, California; K1, K3, K18, and K8, Korea
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1951-1952
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served in the Marine Corps Reserve until 3/13/1959.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2007-06-05; 2004-01-01)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2007)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/53605
Cite as
- James T. Markalunas Collection (AFC/2001/001/53605), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Part of
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Service Unit
- 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW)
- Marine Air Group 12 (Mag)
- Vmfn-513 (Night Fighter Squadron)
- Vmr-152 (Marine Transport Squadron)