Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Audio Recording Vance D. Funkhouser Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 3rd Air Rescue Squadron
- Location of Service: Korea
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/20941
Vance Funkhouser's aptitude for mechanical devices served him well in the Air Force during the Korean War. With helicopters being used for the first time to transport wounded to MASH units, there was a need for the critically wounded to receive blood plasma in transit. Because the litters were strapped outside the body of the aircraft, Funkhouser came up with a device that snapped on to the litters, giving injured GIs valuable in-flight treatment and earning him a Bronze Star. Funkhouser enjoyed the democratic camaraderie in his rescue squadron, where officers didn't pull rank on the enlisted men.
Vance D. Funkhouser Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
Share
-
PlayAfter basic training, going to aviation mechanics school; working in air rescue near the front lines to pick up the wounded and take them to MASH units; picking up many downed pilots; his was among the most decorated units in Korea; not authorized to be in Korea; asking to go to Japan to get tools to work on helicopters; on request, developing device to carry blood plasma on litters attached to helicopters; his design won him the Bronze Star; working long hours to ensure that all aircraft were available. 00:02:29.8 - 00:08:33.3
-
PlayDealing with stress; hearing story of guerrilla fighters sneaking into a tent and stabbing everyone, which didn't help him sleep. 00:11:54.6 - 00:13:06.8
-
PlayRank didn't seem to matter in his unit; didn't wear stripes; everyone went by his first name; like a big family; working on a project to balance rotors. 00:14:34.7 - 00:16:33.1
-
PlayWhen his service ended, not wanting to come out; his father persuading him to return to civilian life; still regrets not making the Air Force a career. 00:17:56.5 - 00:18:20.1
-
PlayFurther detail on the blood plasma device; hand-made without tools; had to make two for every helicopter they had; explanation of how the device worked; it saved many lives. 00:24:19.5 - 00:26:25.5
More Resources
About this Item
Title
- Vance D. Funkhouser Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
- Funkhouser, Vance D.
- Wood, Rebecca
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Funkhouser, Vance D.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Air Force.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Air Force
- Unit of Service: 3rd Air Rescue Squadron
- Location of Service: Korea
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1950-1954
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran invented a device that allows plasma to be given on the battlefield or in the air.
Materials
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2009-08-20; 2009-08-20)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2010)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 1931-04-01)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1954)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [2 items] -- Photograph (collected unknown)
- Manuscript: Periodicals [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2002-05)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/20941
Cite as
- Vance D. Funkhouser Collection (AFC/2001/001/20941), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- online text
- image