JoAnne Rademacher, Northern Sentry Contributor

Richard Kinzley served in the United States Army from 10 Oct 50 to 02 August 52. Born in 1925, Richard was just 25 years old when Uncle Sam sent him to Korea, a place from which 36,574 young Americans did not return. Now 101 years old, this is Richard’s story.

Richard grew up on a farm 4 miles south of Mohall, North Dakota. He says he felt very fortunate in his early life. He remembers his dad taking him to meet the train in Bismarck, a ride that would take him to Los Angeles, California for his Army basic training. “Supposedly.”

Richard never believed it was actual training. He says the facility wasn’t prepared. They had the new recruits serving the men in charge, who he assumed to be veterans. The first training exercise the new recruits were assigned was to stay behind a board the veteran instructors fired at, then run out and replace whatever they shot up. With a bit of a chuckle, Richard says, “It was part of the training. They called that basic training. From there I went into action.”

The Army didn’t waste much time getting the young men on a boat to Korea. Richard says, “It was amusing, because of all the men on the ship, only 7 of us didn’t get sick. We were in calm waters and these guys were heaving. I was one of the seven that didn’t get sick and we had to clean up the mess. We sailed directly to Korea. That was something new and different. It was a good lesson, anyway.” When asked what that lesson was, he answered, “It was survival!”

Richard spent his time in Korea north of Pusan which is on the southeastern shore of the Korean Peninsula. In reading about and looking at battle maps describing what was happening in Korea around Pusan in the months leading up to Richard’s arrival there, one could only conclude it had to be a horrifying experience for a young man, fresh from the peaceful North Dakota prairie. It was the early days of U.S. involvement, during which U.S troops took heavy casualties.

Reluctant to talk about the details of life and fighting on the front lines of war, Richard is more likely to recite a more amusing story of his time in Korea. The following article is helpful in putting Richard’s Korean War experience into perspective with what was happening there at the time of his arrival and what he was faced with while there. https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaFamWebInPusan

Richard says he “met a lot of nice men. Everything happened so fast, learning the job as you’re going along.” Richard was wounded. “You healed up and went back out.” he says. He was amused once when an officer arrived to check on the wounded men. His was a shoulder wound. The officer “took fingers from each hand and shoved them aside of that. He was wearing his dress uniform, but he got it bloody that day. I’m sure the rest of the guys woulda liked to laugh but they didn’t.”

His unit’s main purpose was to defend an area but there were times they had to be aggressive and initiate an attack to insure survival. Richard felt they were all trying to do their job. He had close friends by his side because you are dependent on each other, and close bonds were created due to the circumstances.

Before Korea, Richard had never carried such a big weapon. “Under all conditions, they were great. And that’s something you took care of to make sure it functions.”

When asked what kind of structure or conditions they lived in, Richard simply said, “We had a sleeping bag.” They slept under the stars in trenches. “You had to dig a trench, deep enough to take care of yourself.” Each man was issued “a nice shovel” that was adjustable so it could become a shovel or a hoe, depending on need.

On his contact with South Koreans, Richard said they were helpful. They tried to help as much as they could.
The troops were issued rations for meals. Rations were in cans, and under the circumstances, were pretty good. Every so often a candy bar was issued. At times, a fresh meal was served. On those occasions, troops took turns going down the hill to eat. Showers followed the same routine.

Asked how he coped with all he’d seen and where he found the strength to live with all that was in his head, Richard said, “I don’t know, it’s just there. I do have memories.” Returning home was, admittedly, a difficult adjustment.

When his allotted time in Korea was over in 1952, Richard returned to California by ship. Speaking about arriving on home shores, he said, “I was very happy about it. The first thing I did when I hit the states was to call my gal. I said, ‘Lets get married’ and there was no argument. He had proposed before he left so now was their time. Her name was Coleen Wade.

Coleen lived north of Mohall and was eight years younger than Richard. They made their home on his family farm where they raised grain and milked cows. “That cream check was Coleen’s grocery money.” Richard speaks lovingly about Coleen and how hard she worked, side by side with him. She had grown up on a similar farm, so she knew what needed to be done.

One time, Richard’s uncle left the farm early to pick up his date, thinking he would have to finish the work when he returned. To his surprise, Coleen had finished the chores and was ready to go out herself when he got back.
Richard and Coleen raised three children. Doug and Raymond live and run a business in California. David and Janet live near the Kinzley family farm. Gail Kinzley lives on the Wade family farm where Coleen grew up. Special thanks to Janet for arranging and participating in my interview with Richard.

Richard is an active member of the Mohall American Legion Post. He was awarded a Purple Heart and Silver Star. Richard and his son, Dave, went on the 2023 Spring Western ND Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. For his 101st birthday this year, Richard received a birthday letter and commemorative coin from Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins. He also received several commemorative coins via a special friend, from an Air Force General who was at the Minot AFB the day of his birthday.

“In war, there are no
unwounded soldiers.”
José Narosky
(Writer, 1930 – present, Argentina)

It is truly amazing how a person can experience the raw horrors of war that can never be erased from the mind, then return to the life they left behind to embrace it anew with family and friends. From the outside, many do just that, keeping their ever-present wounds hidden under clothing and deeply held in their souls. Richard Kinzley appears to be one of those men. When asked if anything good came out of his Army experiences in the Korean War, without anger or bitterness, this is what he said:

“Of all the people I met there and stateside, I respect every man. I don’t care what his color is or what his background. I don’t care what religion or what his beliefs are, but I have respect for everyone.”