JoAnne Rademacher, Northern Sentry Contributor

The Korean War began after five years of growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The North Korean People’s Army invaded the Republic of Korea south of the 38th parallel on June 24, 1950. That action was followed by involvement of the United States military along with Great Britain and United Nations Command. At the height of the war, 40% of ground troops in Korea were United States Soldiers.

Enter Albert J. Jundt, a young farm kid from Berwick (just east of Towner), North Dakota, population 71 in the 1950 census. Proud to be drafted and called in on 19 June 1951, Al was ready to serve his country in Korea. He had never been out of the state of North Dakota.

From Towner, Al traveled by train to Fargo, and then to Fort Sheridan, IL, a regional induction and training center at the time. Before long, Al was ordered to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri for two months of Basic Training and two months of Advanced Training. By November, he was ready to ship out to Korea.

As he finished training in Missouri, Corporal Jundt’s Grandpa died. He was granted an extension to attend the funeral before leaving for Korea. Cpl. Jundt was then sent to Fort Ord, California, where he boarded a ship. Fourteen days later, he was in Tachikawa, Japan. The city was originally a military town centered on Tachikawa Airfield, established in 1922. The U.S. military used the base until 1977.

From Tachikawa, Cpl. Jundt found himself in the air, landing in Pusan, South Korea. The next leg of the journey was by boxcar train. “They loaded me on a freight car…I call it a cattle car…give me my duffle bag, everything that I had…my M1 rifle, took me out on the train, said ‘Buddy,’ and I don’t mean alone, I’m talk’n about the guys that went with me…’You guys get on the boxcars, put your duffle down, then lay down next to it, cause we’re gonna travel tonight.’ They hauled their GI’s at night cause of the enemy.” The stealth train ride was headed to Taegu, South Korea. “It’s where I landed at.”

After a short time at Taegu, Cpl. Jundt’s unit was moved again. Seoul had fallen to the North Koreans, so our Soldiers were driven back close to Pusan. At Seoul, US and UNC troops were outnumbered by 300,000 Chinese troops who drove them south. After the US and UNC recovered Seoul, Cpl. Jundt’s unit ended up near Seoul where he spent the next twelve months. They were moved around as needed. Sometimes he was on the front lines, then would be pulled back. At one point, Cpl. Jundt got lucky and was granted R&R in Tokyo, Japan for six days.

Cpl. Jundt was in Army Headquarters Company, 822nd Engineering Battalion. Stationed with the 5th Air Force, the 822nd built the first concrete air strip for the Air Force in South Korea. The enemy was after them constantly, trying to poison their water supply and attempting other strategies to stop them.

Cpl. Jundt was wounded in the upper arm, cracking the bone on 15 February 1952. In Korea, you had to be pretty badly injured to be removed from the battlefield. If injuries were very serious, a Soldier was shipped right to Japan. Considered less than serious, the Cpl.’s wound was dressed and he was back on the range in two weeks, fighting again. Like many Korean veterans, Cpl. Jundt’s records were lost in a fire. Without them, his earned Purple Heart medal is withheld.

The Armistice ending the war and Cpl. Jundt’s time in South Korea was signed on July 27th, 1953. With time left to serve, Cpl. Jundt was stationed at Camp Mercury in Nevada where nuclear testing was taking place.
Cpl. Jundt enjoyed his days in the army. He is glad he had the chance to serve his country. Before discharge on 19 March 1953, he got the pitch to stay in the Army. For him, the choices were clear. He would stay in the Army and remain single for the rest of his life or take discharge and go home to a future of marriage and family. He chose the latter, a choice he does not regret. May 2nd is his and Ann’s, 71st Anniversary. “I thank God every day for guiding me in that direction.” Al and Ann went on to raise 3 sons.

After being discharged from regular Army, Al joined the Army National Guard of North Dakota. He joined Company B 164th Engineering Battalion, 26 November 1954 in Minot, ND. He served there as Sargeant First Class Jundt until 1 June 1956.

Fighting a war takes a toll on a young man faced with unimaginable trauma to body, heart and soul. The joy of coming home is often tempered with consequences for those they love. There was a period when the war would return to Al in the dark of night. The nightmares were so real, he feared for what he might do to his wife in the throes of the dream so at times he slept away from her. When asked how he dealt with the night terrors, he said, “It took a lot of time, but I’m a Christian. It took a lot of prayers, lot of prayers.”

Al didn’t talk to his parents about war experiences to spare them the angst of knowing. He said he’d never seen his mother cry so much in his life as she did when he was drafted. He didn’t tell her when he was wounded. He was the oldest of thirteen children and her heart was breaking at the prospect of what was ahead. Two younger brothers went on to serve in Vietnam. Heart-stopping for any mother. It took many years to begin speaking openly about his experiences. Now, 96 years old, he is telling his story.

Life since the military has been full for Al and Ann. For sixteen years, they had service stations in Williston, then Minot, ND. For the next three years, they took vacations, one after the other. They traveled from Mexico to Alaska. As travel slowed down, Al and a small group of friend/investors, got into real estate, which was good for them and brought him into retirement.

Now in assisted living, Al gratefully takes each day as a blessing. A big surprise and highlight of his life came recently when he was awarded a flag that had been flown over the Pentagon. The presentation was made at an event honoring Al and three other veterans at Somerset Court in Minot. The presentation certificate is signed by Rebecca B. McElwain, Brigadier General, U.S. Army and native of Karlsruhe, ND. She penned on it, “Thank you for all you have done in Service to our nation – you have made a difference! Grateful for you!