Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Ralph B. Steele Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/2616
Inspired by the service of his older brothers and others in World War II, 18-year-old Ralph Steele joined a Marine Corps Reserve unit in 1948. Two years later, he was called into active duty when the Korean War broke out. Trained as a machine gunner, he saw action in Korea as a rifleman but was wounded not long after arriving in country. Fifty years after the events, Steele is able to recall in vivid detail his short tour in Korea, when the reality of war collided with the ideals which had prompted him to join the service.
Ralph B. Steele Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayAt high school career day in 1948, Marines told him that he could join a Marine Reserve unit; mother would not give him permission, father overruled her; not much activity as part of the Reserve; in 1950, called up in the wake of Korean War starting; his mistaken notion about his term of service. 00:04:34.8 - 00:07:59.4
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PlayFirst impressions in boot camp; "unrelenting pressure;" one recruit deserting, another committing suicide; Steele disciplined several times for minor infractions; coming to understand how boot camp forges a bond with other Marines and how important that is in combat. 00:08:18.2 - 00:15:57.2
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PlayExpecting to go into the infantry but first job at Camp Pendleton in California was in the mess hall; wondering if he'd get a chance to prove himself in combat; running into a buddy from his home town and talking about getting into weapons; asking to be transferred to a weapons company; given the life expectancy in combat of the various weapons specialists; training on a machine gun. 00:18:27.3 - 00:22:14.6
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PlayOn troop ship landing in Pusan, Korea, meeting a guy named Ivan with whom he had instant affinity; seeing a Korean dock worker badly injured; both men saying as they noted two nearby hospital ships that they hoped they wouldn't end up on those; two weeks later, Ivan was dead and Steele was wounded and on one of those ships; Ivan was killed by the kind of booby trap that had almost got to Steele in a separate incident. 00:26:14.2 - 00:30:30.6
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PlayDealing with death; reflecting on Ivan's death; seeing a dead soldier, he would think about that person's parents; as young men, learning to carry on after death of a comrade. 00:30:55.8 - 00:34:41.8
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PlayIn his first day in country, transported in truck coming under artillery fire; guy across from him, his face coated in dust, had twin rivers of tears coming out of his eyes; killing Chinese not out of hatred but as professionals; resenting the incoming artillery but coming to appreciate when it was outgoing. 00:34:47.4 - 00:37:46.6
More Resources
Ralph B. Steele Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayWondering why someone would throw himself on a grenade to save others; in his sleeping bag in a foxhole when a grenade lands on him; his reaction is to snatch it and throw it away; turned out to be a rock. 00:00:28.1 - 00:04:24.3
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PlayTesting capacity for bravery; getting attacked four times during one night; WWII vets who knew some Chinese translating the enemy's taunts; remembering how bad he didn't want to be there but only as mental exercise. 00:16:29.9 - 00:19:13.1
About this Item
Title
- Ralph B. Steele Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- Steele, Ralph B.
- Ordner, Larry
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Steele, Ralph B.
- - 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
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Dates of Service: 1948-1953
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served in the Marine Reserves beginning in 1948 and was called to active duty in 1950.
Materials
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Multiple types of electronic files (collected 2002-08-28; 2005-03-21)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2002-08-28)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2002-08-28)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-08-28)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [1 item] -- Portrait (collected 2002)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/2616
Cite as
- Ralph B. Steele Collection (AFC/2001/001/2616), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text