My Grandfather's Service in The Korean War

My grandmother recently shared a letter that my grandfather wrote to one of the pastors at his church. The pastor had also served in the US Military and was interested in hearing about my grandfather's experience. This is the text of that letter:

"For Col. Howie Krienke
You asked for a resume of my experiences in the U.S. Army. Here is a brief recap.

In March of 1951 I volunteered to the regular Army, by the next month, I was among the first contingent to embark for basic training (infantry) on the Island of Oahu at Schofield Barracks. The Korean War was well underway, and the U.S. had suffered heavy losses. Some of my good friends (little more than teenagers) had already been drafted. After a rigorous basic (as attested to by some Marines) the Army put me in wire communications training. In that role they also made me a temporary acting first sergeant for the trip to Yokohama Staging Area. Next stop after another sea ‘cruise’ was Inchon, and then Second Infantry Division Headquarters Co, forward wire assignment. Bob Hope came to Korea, but he was so far back very few of us could catch his show. Our unit had turned back the Chinese Army at ‘Bloody Ridge’ and the unconvertible communist had decided to sue for whatever they could get (which has been nearly fifty years of deadly feuding along the 39^th parallel). After a very cold Korean winter, the Army brought me home for a few weeks’ leave in Spring 1952. Then, in usual Army style, my order were interchanged with another similar name, and while my counterpart was dutifully sent to Maryland, my orders (without finance records) sent me to Fort Sam Houston (ironically the headquarters of the Second Infantry Division) down in Texas. There allergies attacked me with furious effect. Though my younger brother was then stationed only a few miles away at AFB Lackland, I felt obliged to ask for some relief by volunteering for duty on the German Occupation Force. Having earned credit in the artillery assignment at Ft. Hood, Tex., the Army put me in the 194^th F.A. Battalion. While there, with the “Cold War” in full swing in 1953, I was able to found, organize and lead the First Battalion Chorus of the 194 Batt. We did exactly one stage performance before a packed house and then were dispersed to maneuvers. And my tour was up. My second winter time Atlantic ship crossing was even more demanding that the first. Losses were notable but endurable. Mustering out, a little prior to three years, was in February 1954 at Ft. Sheridan Illinois. I went home, got there in the middle of the night, let myself in, and slept on the living room carpet."

My grandfather's name was Loren Krueger -- he was born in 1930 and died in 2006 from the effects of lung cancer. After Korea, he met his wife Carol at a youth group meeting in Illinois and they married in 1957. He used the G.I. Bill to get his degree in Mechanical Engineering and worked for Honeywell for many years. He ended up having 3 children with Carol and, at the time of his death, had 6 grandchildren. He is buried at Fort Snelling in Minnesota.