Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Raymond Eldred Metcalf Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Philippine Sea (CVA 47); Task Force 77
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Philippines
- Highest Rank: Aviation Photographer's Mate Third Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/69684
At the age of 17, fresh out of boot camp, Raymond Metcalf talked his way into a job as a Navy photographer, claiming he needed to learn the family business. During the Korean War, he traveled between combat units to collect images of Navy planes in action, surviving bombings and sniper fire, all while armed with nothing but his camera. When he returned home, he experienced nightmares and suffered from depression; and though he eventually found help through the VA, in his VHP interview he says "I wish I would have found it 50 years...56 years ago."
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
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PlayArrival in the Philippines; assigned to mow grass and polish fire trucks; talking his way into reassignment as a photographer. 00:04:42.0 - 00:08:20.0
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PlayHiking through the jungle to the site of a plane crash; followed by guerrilla fighters; reaching the halfway camp. 00:12:54.0 - 00:19:41.0
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PlayOrders to travel to various combat units; travel into Korea; bombed by North Korean forces. 00:32:00.0 - 00:39:58.0
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PlayPlane shot at before taking off for flight back to his aircraft carrier; photographing plane crashes and a suicide; developing aerial photographs; nightmares. 00:43:15.0 - 00:56:28.0
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PlaySuicide attempts; seeking help; effects of being in "combat mode" for long periods of time; difficulty documenting his experiences. 01:08:10.0 - 01:24:44.0
About this Item
Title
- Raymond Eldred Metcalf Collection
Names
- VA Medical Center, San Diego, California
- Metcalf, Raymond Eldred
- Cox, Carl Raymond
Home State
- California
Headings
- - Metcalf, Raymond Eldred
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
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: Navy
- Unit of Service: USS Philippine Sea (CVA 47); Task Force 77
- Location of Service: San Diego, California; Philippines
- Highest Rank: Aviation Photographer's Mate Third Class
- Dates of Service: 1950-1953
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2009-08-12; 2009-11-12)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of video recording (collected 2009-08-12)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/69684
Cite as
- Raymond Eldred Metcalf Collection (AFC/2001/001/69684), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- online text
- video