The Occupation of Korea: An American Soldier’s Experience

Eleven rainy days later, I boarded the army Marine Swallow. After climbing many waves in a Pacific typhoon, the ship reached Inchon, Korea, but not in the expected fourteen days. Instead, it took twenty-two.
Upon disembarking, my group carried their heavy duffle bags several blocks to a waiting passenger train. In our light-weight fall jackets, we were impressed by the heavy parkas worn by the American soldiers already there. On boarding the train, we found it windowless and were told the Japanese, who annexed Korea in 1910, took the glass before being forced to leave after World War II. In his memoir, author, Donald Stopp raises the question more than once. Why was I, rather, my country in Korea? Curious to learn, he developed an avid interest in history, not only about America but around the world. His experiences in Korea during the American occupation served as a catalyst for major decisions he made regarding his field of studies upon discharge from the army and subsequently earned a B.A. degree in American History at Duke University. Don continued to learn and grow throughout his life by reading numerous books, newspaper articles, magazines, joining clubs and organizations, attending conferences or meetings with speakers from around the world. Driven by his innate curiosity and insatiable desire to learn, he developed a keen sense of politics, as well. Having written memoirs throughout his life, Don would never forget how serving in the United States Army during the American occupation of Korea impacted his life! Published by William R. Parks www.wrparks.com