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Norbert Bentele - Korean War

Norbern Bentele grew up on the family farm in Macon County, Missouri, and upon graduation from high school in 1950 worked for the railroad stringing telephone line next to the tracks. He joined the Army in 1952, and was assigned to the Signal Corps. He arrived in South Korea in the spring of 1953, just when the fighting along the front was heating up. Following the armistice in July, 1953, he helped train South Korean troops on signal skills, then returned to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri for the remainder of his tour.

Interview Links

Feature Excerpt

Prisoner release

Abstract

Interview Session 01 (Audio)

From the farm to civilian wireman to the military

Interview Session 02 (Audio)

Year in Korea & post-war duty in MO & CO

Transcript


Photos

Caption
Private Norbert Bentele was in Macon, Missouri, home on leave in July, 1952 following Basic Training, which he took at Camp Gordon, Georgia.

Where:
Macon, Missouri

When:
July, 1952

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Bentele shipped overseas on the US Naval Ship General Simon B. Buckner, arriving in Japan in December, 1952 for a short stay before sailing to Korea.

Where:
US Naval Ship General Simon B. Buckner

When:
December, 1952

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
PV2 Bentele takes a moment to get his picture taken while driving a jeep in the Imjin Valley area, (north of the 38th parallel) where he was assigned to the 4th Signal Battalion of the X Corps. He worked in telephone repair in the T & T Company.

Where:
Imjin Valley area, (north of the 38th parallel).

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
105mm howitzer crew members from the 45th Infantry Division man their gun during an operation in June, 1953 near the Punch Bowl. The Chinese launched massive offensives all along the front during the last few months of the war.

Where:
Near the Punch Bowl

When:
June, 1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
Norbert Bentele takes a break from trouble shooting telephone wire.

Where:
Hwach’on region of South Korea

When:
June, 1953

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo

Caption
The city of Seoul, South Korea exchanged hands four times during the war, leaving the city devastated. The destroyed Han River bridge is depicted here, along with a replacement span, as they appeared in 1951.

Where:
Seoul, South Korea

When:
Circa 1951

Ownership:
John Putnam, the 4th Signal Corps’ official photographer, took the photo, and later gave it to Bentele. This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Koreans are heading toward Uijongbu, South Korea, on their way to market day, circa 1952. 

Where:
Uijongbu, South Korea

When:
Circa 1952

Ownership:
John Putnam, the 4th Signal Corps’ official photographer, took the photo, and later gave it to Bentele. Narrator’s photo.

Caption
Staff Sergeant Bentele was stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas in July, 1954. He was TDY (Temporary Duty) to the Missouri State Fair, supervising an exhibit of army equipment.

Where:
Missouri State Fair

When:
July, 1954

Ownership:
Narrator’s photo



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