Meredith+and+Chandelle+-+James+Herbert

Chandelle Keller Meredith Balsbaugh

James Arthur Herbert is one of the many veterans that needs to be recognized for his service. He was born on July 20, 1924, in Fairmont, West Virginia and currently resides in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Mr. Herbert wasn’t only in one war, but three! He served in the end of World War II, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War! Mr. Herbert achieved the Distinguished Service Medal twice and the Legion of Merit twice as well. Overall, he was in the United States Army for 33 years, and he accomplished many amazing things. In that time, he became a Brigadier General, was wounded severely in combat, and received many awards and medals. The first war Mr. Herbert served in was World War II. This was a conflict which involved over 50 countries. America first became involved when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. (World War II. United States History) A day later, the United States declared war. Mr. Herbert was commissioned into the U.S. Army on July 18, 1942. Of course he wasn’t in combat right away. He started his military career by attending West Point Military Academy in New York. Herbert studied there from July 18, 1942, to June 5, 1945 (Brigadier General James A. Herbert). Then, the Korean War started in 1949, when the Japanese troops North of the 38th parallel surrendered to the Soviets. The Japanese troops south of the parallel surrendered to the Americans. One communist and one democratic nation developed when the nation split. The Soviet Union backed the North Koreans by sending them tanks, airplanes and money to take over the peninsula and spread communism. On the other hand, the United States supported the South Koreans to help stop the spread of communism. Sixteen nations contributed over 520,000 troops to South Korea, and 90% of them were from America (Littell, McDougal, “The Korean War”). During the war, the Chinese and North Korean armies, in April 1951, sent 350,000 troops to push the United Nations out of Korea. On April 25, 1951, there was a night attack that concerned the South Korean 6th Division. This left a big hole in the United Nation's lines which revealed the right side of U.S 24th Infantry that the 21st Infantry defended. To try and balance out the lines, Captain Herbert guided 89 rangers into the hole to find the enemy and present information on North Korea about their strength and duties. As the sun was rising, the rangers could see the amount of Chinese soldiers coming on the right of the 24th Infantry Division. Captain Herbert's rangers followed him into a very large outnumbered attack. One third of Mr. Herbert's rangers, including himself, were wounded. James Herbert was shot through the neck, shoulder, and arm (Brigadier General James A. Herbert). The medic told him that he was never told how to deal with a neck injury before, so Captain Herbert was supposed to plug his forefinger and thumb into the holes in his neck (Herbert WMV)."The 24th Infantry Division Commander said of the ranger attack,"'By your action you have saved the 21st Regiment, if not the Division” (Brigadier General James A. Herbert). The final conflict James Herbert fought in was the Vietnam War. Seeking to stop communism, the United States provided the French with economic and military support (Littell, McDougal. “The Vietnam War Years”). Between the years of 1962-1972, Herbert served six years in Vietnam (Mr. Herbert). By the end of 1963, 16,000 U.S. military personnel were sent to South Vietnam (Littell, McDougal. “The Vietnam War Years”). Herbert was one of the many to go to Vietnam. From 1960-1962, he was in the 506th Airborne Battle Group, and the 101st Airborne Division over in Vietnam (Mr. Herbert). He experienced many things that he should be remembered and respected for. Mr. Herbert wasn’t just an amazing general and combat fighter, but he was also very intelligent. Not only did he attend West Point Military Academy, but he attended many other colleges and schools while in the military. From 1948-1950 he attended Infantry School in Fort Benning, Georgia. “Fort Benning was used not only to train infantry but also to demonstrate innovations in tactics and weapons to civilian and military leaders from home abroad” ("Fort Benning." The New Georgia Encyclopedia.). In 1951-52, he attended a Ranger Department training course at Fort Benning as well. It was an eight week course at the time which involved three phases. The Benning Phase, the Mountain Phase, and the Florida Phase. The Benning Phase teaches the Ranger student to properly maintain themselves. The Mountain Phases gives the Ranger student fundamentals in organizing combat groups in mountainous regions. The Florida Phase trains Rangers to continue to operate effectively under mental and physical stress (RTB History). Other colleges such as the Finance School and the Command and General Staff College were attended in the years of 1953-56 as well (“About the Command and General Staff College”). All of these colleges and institutions that Mr. Herbert attended helped him greatly in his achievements and were a big part of his basic training. Mr. Herbert wasn’t just another Brigadier General though. It is very difficult to attain this rank in the first place. All of his service awards and medals prove that. He received the Distinguished Service Medal twice, which was an award granted to those with distinguished acts in a position of great responsibility (Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal). He also received the Legion of Merit twice. "The Legion of Merit is awarded to members of armed forces of foreign nations according to the plane of responsibility of the receiver of the award" ("Legion of Merit."). Mr. James Herbert received the Meritorious Service Medal, which is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who demonstrate outstanding non combat achievements (“Meritorious Service Medal."). The Bronze Star was another one of the medals he achieved ("Bronze Star Medal"). Mr. Herbert also earned a Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, and a Purple Heart for being should through the neck, arm, and shoulder. Today the Purple Heart is one of the most unique awards to earn because it shows that soldier made a huge sacrifice for your country (“The Purple Heart Medal") Mr. James Arthur Herbert retired from the United States Army on July 31, 1975. He had served his country for 33 years and suffered through three major wars of America’s history. He should be remembered as a self-disciplined man who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Every award and ranking he received was well deserved on his part. Herbert has been through so much and he is a veteran that should always be remembered.

__Works Cited__


 * 1.) "The 1950s: The Korean War." SIRS Decades. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2012. **
 * . **


 * 2.) "About the Command and General Staff College." United States Army Combined Arms **
 *  Center. N.p., 4 Jan. 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/about.asp>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3.) "Brigadier General James A. Herbert." Army Heritage Center Foundation. N.p., **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. <http://www.armyheritage.org/ **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> education-and-programs/educational-resources/soldier-stories/ **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 229-brigadier-general-jmes-a-herbert.html>. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4.)"Bronze Star Medal." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armymedals/ss/bsm_3.htm>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5.) "Fort Benning." The New Georgia Encyclopedia. N.p., 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 30 Sept. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 2012. < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-822>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6.)Mr. James Arthur Herbert **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7.) HERBERT WMV 480p 4x3. YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfyoiJy3GMY>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8.) "Legion of Merit." About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armymedals/ss/lom.htm>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9.) Littell, McDougal. "The Korean War." The Americans. 2007. 611-15. Print. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">10.)Littell, McDougal. "The Vietnam War Years." The Americans. Evanston: n.p., 2007. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 728-61. Print. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">11.)"Meritorious Service Medal." Foxfall. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.foxfall.com/fmd-common-msm.htm>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">12.)"The Purple Heart Medal." Home of Heroes. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.homeofheroes.com/medals/purple_heart/purple_heart.html>.__ **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">13.) "Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal." Home of Heroes. N.p., n.d. Web. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> 30 Sept. 2012. < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/02_awards/__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">03_dsm.html>. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">14.) "RTB History." U.S. ARMY. N.p., 17 July 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> < <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/RTB/>.__ **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: right; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Chandelle Keller Meredith Balsbaugh
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">15.) "World War II." United States History. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2012. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1661.html>. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We are here with Mr. James Arthur Herbert who was born on July 20, 1924. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He has served in World War II, The Korean War, and the Vietnam War. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">His highest ranking was a Brigadier General. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The interview is being conducted on October 14, 2012 in Cornwall Manor, in Mr. Herbert’s living room. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The interviewers are Chandelle Keller and Meredith Balsbaugh. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This interview is being conducted for the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1.) Where did you grow up? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2.) How would you describe your life growing up? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3.) What school did you go to and what kind of student were you? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4.) Did you have any siblings? If so, how many? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5.) How and why did you get involved in the army? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6.) How old were you when you got into the army and did you realize what you were fighting for? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7.) Were any of your friends in the army with you? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8.) What did your relatives think about you being in the United States army the first year? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9.) Was the army what you expected when you started? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">10.) Was it easy for you to adjust to the life of the army? How were your surroundings diffrerent? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">11.) What was basic training like at West Point University? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">12.) Besides the basic training, what else did you learn at West Point? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">13.) What were your orders after you graduated at West Point in 1945? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">14.) Where were you first stationed? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">15.) Can you describe what exactly happened when you were in the 8th Army Operation Ripper? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">16.) How would you describe the fighting and battles overall? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">17.) Can you explain what rural pacification and development was and how you were involved? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">18.) When you weren’t on a mission or assignment, what would you do for R+R? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">19.) While you served in the 511th Parachute Infantry, what were some of the missions and major roles you had to accomplish? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">20.) Were you wounded? if so in what battle or year were you wounded the worst? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">21.) What was your last thought before you got wounded? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">22.) How long did it take you to recover from your injuries and did you let your family know things back home? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">23.) What did you train for when you came back to the States for Infantry School? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">24.) What were the headquarters in Alaska like and what all did you do there? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">25.) What was the 506th Airborne Battle Group’s responsibilities in the war? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">26.) What battle or war, would you say was the hardest for you personally? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">27.) Were there any certain times in which you were about to be captured? If so, how did this happen? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">28.) Did you experience more combat in Korea or in Vietnam and what were the major differences in that combat? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">29.) In what years did you receive all of your different medals and for what reasons? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">30.) In what year of your service did you become a Brigadier General and what were your orders when you received this ranking? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">31.) How would you describe the fighting and battles overall? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">32.) After you retired, were you recognized in any particular ways? **

Balsbaugh: We’re here with Mr. James Arthur Herbert who was born on July 20, 1924. He has served in World War II, The Korean War, and The Vietnam War. His highest ranking was a Brigadier General. The interview is being conducted on October 14, 2012 at 9:30 in Mr. Herbert’s home. The interviewers are Chandelle Keller and Meredith Balsbaugh. This interview is being conducted for the Veteran’s History Project at the Library of Congress.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">33.) How were all three of the wars different and similar for you personally? **

Keller: Okay, our first question is where did you grow up?

Mr. Herbert: In Fairmont, West Virginia

Keller: How would you describe your life growing up?

Mr. Herbert: Well it was interesting, and it was demanding. I had to work. Anyone who was able to work over the age of about nine or ten had to get a job because of the Depression, which was far worse than what we describe as a recession now. But the, for example, our unemployment rate now is around eight percent. During the Great Depression of the ‘30s the average for the whole country was well over 25%. That’s over three times as many out of work, I mean proportion wise, so we as an understanding in our family that if you’re old enough you had to go hunt for a job. Generally, my four sisters ended up doing domestic work or advertising that they were available for babysitting and things like that. And my one brother was too young to be involved in it, another one was involved in marketing vegetables and I got three paper routes and went around mowing lawns and that sort of thing to make money. But everyone was busy that I, I mean that was old enough to do anything. So that’s quite a big difference between a depression and a recession.

Keller: What school did you go to, and what kind of student were you?

Mr. Herbert: Well I went to JN elementary school, which was in walking distance. And I would describe it as probably a traditional elementary school. It was a no nonsense school. You had to study. You were expected to learn, and if you did well you would graduate and go to a junior high school in the city. We were in the suburbs, and went to a junior high school there for just a year then to Fairmont High School. And I understood that they were rather demanding and were rated pretty high within the state. So we were pretty proud of our schools particularly in the athletic business, playing football, baseball and all of that. I was in the band playing the trombone.

Keller: Okay, how and why did you get in the army?

Mr. Herbert: How and why, well, partly I would guess because of the experience of my father who was a soldier in the 28th division, which is a local national guard division but was an active division then. He was in the engineer battalion. He was just was like any other who served in the military during World War I, they were very proud of his service. So that was one thing. The other was we didn’t have any money for any tuition for any engineering college. So there was a thought that maybe one of the service academies, since we had good academic achievements you see, we thought maybe we stood a chance there, so I had applied and I was accepted as a cadet at the US Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation from there, we were commissioned; I was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry. Immediately we went off to the Philippines in the preparation for the invasion of Japan, which never took place because of the we called then an atom bomb or a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and then Japan surrendered. That was, we were expected to be taking the place of lieutenant platoon leaders, because they were shot up in the invasion. As it turned out, they were sent home and we took their place, but they didn’t have to get shot up to come home, and there was no large invasion.

Keller: How old were you when you got into the army?

Mr. Herbert: I was seventeen

Keller: Were any of your close friends with you?

Mr. Herbert: I’d say no, no I mean I don’t know of any close friends that went the same route.

Keller: What did your relatives think about you being in the United States Army the first year?

Mr. Herbert: Well I think they were satisfied. And the military service had a good reputation and the fact is we were building the military up for World War II. It was generally expected that if a person that if a youngster like me seventeen or eighteen was old enough and in good enough health they would be drafted enter the military service. If they didn’t want to be drafted, they could volunteer for the air corp. or the navy and they would not then be drafted for the army.

Keller: Was the army what you expected when you started?

Mr. Herbert: I didn’t know what to expect. I would say it was a unique experience, which I had nothing for me to compare to.

Keller: Was it easy for you to adjust to the life of the army?

Mr. Herbert: I think so, but I would condition that. It was fairly easy to adjust since there was no alternative. The other reason was we had very stern supervision initially by upperclassmen at the military academy. Later on with the commission officers in our unit. So it was, it would take a fairly stupid person to oppose the system that he had asked to enter.

Keller: What exactly were you trained for at West Point?

Mr. Herbert: Well we were trained to be leaders of combat soldiers.

Keller: When you graduated from West Point what were your first orders?

Mr. Herbert: Well the first one was to go to Fort Benning, Georgia and get finished off as an infantry officer that being the infantry school and all. And then from there, over seas to the Philippines to a replacement depot waiting for an assignment to a unit for the invasion of Japan

Keller: You said you were in the 8th Army operation Ripper, Mr. Herbert: Oh yeah, that’s in Korea. Keller: Can you describe that?

Mr. Herbert: Well, it was just ground combat against Chinese and North Koreans. I was at that time, which was five years later. I was a captain, a company commander of the 8th ranger company. We were assigned missions, and I think we performed them to the best of anyone’s ability. We had our casualties. We had our successes.

Balsbaugh: How would you describe the fights and battles overall?

Mr. Herbert: Well, I would just have to say, you understand that if you’re a company commander and you’re assigned a mission to take a hill that is occupied by other soldiers. You have to kill those soldiers or drive them off and what it amounts to is, they are trying to hold onto to and here comes this ranger company, and they’re trying to kill the rangers and the rangers are trying to kill them. It is, you’re using artillery, mortars, machine guns, and it’s a pretty willing experience and it’s also a deadly one.

Balsbaugh: When you weren’t on a mission, what would you do in your spare time?

Mr. Herbert: Well I don’t recall having any spare time. It was one mission after another.

Keller: So you didn’t have any R+R?

Mr. Herbert: I was not, I’ll tell you, I was not in Korea long enough to earn and R+R visit, because I got shot, badly wounded shortly after within a couple months of being there. I spent more time in the hospital than I did in Korea!

Keller: Can you explain your injury while you were in Korea?

Mr. Herbert: Well I guess so, because first of all I’ll say it almost turned Alice into a young widow, because it was a serious one. The first one was a bullet round, rifle round through the neck in one side and out the other. Fortunately it missed the vital arteries, veins, bronchial, somehow I was still able to talk a little bit, but there was a lot of internal bleeding. The second round went through here and shattered the clavicle and tore up the right shoulder. The third one blew out the deltoid muscle, which is what you use to lift your arm with, and another round through the arm. This all happened very quickly. I was eventually, if you can understand that during that particular firefight we ended up with a number killed and about 30 wounded so that left about 40 able body rangers, and they had to carry out the dead, and assist the wounded because we had some Korean * but they all took off! We didn’t get to use them, so the entire company was involved in a continuing firefight and to get to a tank platoon that was waiting for us. Fortunately we were able to make it. I know with all the wounds I had I had to walk. Others were walking holding their intestines in.

Balsbaugh: How long did it take you to recover from your injuries?

Herbert: As I told you, I spent more time in the hospital than I did in Korea. It was essentially from April, the end of April 1951 until November, so four to eleven, so seven months.

Balsbaugh: What did you train for when you came back to the United States for infantry school?

Mr. Herbert: Well I didn’t come to the States for infantry school, I came back to go to Walter Reed hospital to get fixed. Upon release from there, I did go back to Fort Benning, Georgia (Rangers) and I was with the airborne school there.

Balsbaugh: What were the headquarters in Alaska like?

Mr. Herbert: Oh now you’re going up to 1970 or so. Well, it depends on what headquarters you’re talking about. There was a battalion headquarters.

Balsbaugh: Explain that one.

Mr. Herbert: Well it was just the battalion commander and a small staff. Above that was a regimental headquarters and that had the regimental commander and his staff. And then above that was US Army Alaska, which was a much larger headquarters it ended up with a major general and the staff of probably a hundred or so.

Balsbaugh: What was the 506th Airborne Battle Group’s responsibility in the war?

Mr. Herbert: Well you’re talking about the, the 506th, right? During the time we were there, it was located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, part of the 101st Airborne Division and it had no battle activity then. It had heavy battle activity during World War II, but this was after that, though we were in a training mode all the time, but not in active combat.

Balsbaugh: What battle or war would you say was the hardest for you?

Mr. Herbert: Well I suppose the one in which I was almost killed.

Balsbaugh: Were there any times in which you were about to be captured?

Mr. Herbert: I would say probably no with the understanding that if the tank platoon from the 6th tank platoon would not have waited for us to come off the mountain, we probably would have been captured and either killed or just died from wounds. Balsbaugh: Did you experience more combat in Korea or Vietnam?

Mr. Herbert: Korea. The combat that I did experience in Vietnam, but it was generally short engagements, and it was spread over a long period of time. I had nearly six years in Vietnam, five separate tours, and I was shot at and missed there, whereas in Korea I was shot at and hit.

Balsbaugh: In what years did you receive all your different medals and for what reasons?

Mr. Herbert: Oh my goodness! How long do you want this?

Keller: As long as you need.

Mr. Herbert: Well you got some service medals just for existing, just for assignment. The World War II victory medal, you got that if you were Asiatic Pacific medal if you were assigned, like we were to the Philippines in Japan, that was, that would merit a service ribbon and the medal would go with it. Are you talking about the badges and everything?

Balsbaugh: Sure

Mr. Herbert: Well, you go to airborne school to get parachute wings that you could wear. That’s one example.

Alice: Bronze Star Mr. Herbert: What? Alice: Bronze Star, Legion of Merit.

Mr. Herbert: But then for service in Japan, there was the Occupation of Japan Medal or Korea Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart for wounds, later on with the airborne division, why you end up with some medals but and then later on if you’re working in the higher headquarters, I ended up with a Distinguished Service Medal, two presentations of that one for Vietnam and one in the pentagon. So they come at all times if you perform well, you are generally rewarded.

Keller: Going back to the 506th Parachute Infantry, did you have any requirements that you had to maintain like flying, certain amount of flying?

Mr. Herbert: Well, it was airborne, so we had to and I was the operations officer for a period of time. We had to, you got to keep that airborne battle group ready for commitment to combat. So we end up with a battalion size or battle group size parachute operations to keep everyone sharp and ready.

Balsbaugh: In what year of service did you become a Brigadier General?

Mr. Herbert: Well, I’d say in my, lets see from forty-two to seventy-one. I guess twenty-nine years.

Balsbaugh: After you retired, were you recognized in any particular ways?

Herbert: Well, after I retired, that was thirty-seven years ago. But after I retired from the active duty, I did spend about six years raising money for the USO, which was a service to the military forces. After that, I’m aware of no particular military awards or certificates.

Balsbaugh: When you came home from the different wars, how did people treat you?

Herbert: Well, that is sort of a key question in your interview. And I’d say that coming back from the occupation of Japan, we were, well were just treated normally I guess. Think my wife could answer that better than I could. Coming back from Vietnam why we were in a sense sort of spat upon and discredited. And we were referred to as baby killers. When we returned from Korea why it was about the same. It was a forgotten war, by the time I was recovered; a lot of people couldn’t even find it on the map. And the situation now is so much different that there is a high respect for those who have helped to defend our freedom. And that is taken a long time to turn around, to in fact honor those who have put their lives on the line, because it wasn’t always that way. It was after World War II, which we won definitely any military from all branches, they were highly regarded for their commitment. But then it all went to pieces by the time of Korean War and Vietnam War. Where we were I think discredited. Then now we’re sort of back to the treatment that was expected of military people with their life on the line. So it has changed a couple of times.

Keller: How was the fighting in Vietnam different from the fighting in Korea?

Herbert: Well I suppose I could say totally. To answer it in one word, but the… Well we had small detachments if you will of the communists of the Viet Cong as they were called. And they were generally located in all the principal villages. And so they had to be rounded out, a few at a time. In Korea you had a North Korean Army and a Chinese Army of 350,000 coming after you, but totally different. I’d say there's probably no comparison until later on in Vietnam when the U.S forces were sent in in 1965. It was because a North Korean and North Vietnamese Army had come down in full force. And the U.S. Military went over there to our credit although it wasn’t given to us by our liberal media, the U.S military forces that were sent to Vietnam, they never lost a battle. They won them all. And then left. And then we left.

Keller: How were your relationships with the native countries, like the foreign born or the native-born, like the people in that country. How did you get along with the Vietnamese and the Koreans?

Herbert: Oh perfectly. Come to the best example was where I’d work directly with the province chief in Quang Nam Province and he had gotten a master degree in Michigan State University. And we just got along very well. Later on, in dealing with the Vietnamese leaders, I had studied the Vietnamese language best I could and so I got along pretty nicely with them, partly in English and partly in Vietnamese.

Keller: Is there any important things that you would like us to know?

Herbert: Well I think there is. And although it didn’t occur during a period of my service, it has been occurring recently. I think that now we are finding a greater lets see it was starting in about 1973 is when the draft stopped. June of 1973 and it was about that time we started recognizing that the number or percentage of volunteers for the military service, the women were gaining in percentage and they are still around 15% of all of the enlistments and commissioning’s too. Now females are four-star generals. So I think the fact that females have seen this as an opportunity and have in fact taken advantage of it, that is a big change. There is another change from the pre 1973 time frame was when everyone was unhappy with the draft. They wanted to get rid of it and so the draft was terminated in June of 1973 and for these lasts however many years from 73 to now it has been an all-volunteer force. Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force, all volunteer. But now for reasons that we’re not sure of there seems to be a desire to get the draftback. When it was the opinion before that they wanted to get rid of it. Why they want it back now we’re not sure. Except for the fact that a very small percentage of American male and female actually participate in the military service. About 1 percent of the American public is in uniform of the military about 3 million total of the 300 some million. So there is this thought that 99 percent of Americans don’t know what military service is. There ought to be a draft so that everybody knows. Well this has been going on for a few years and will continue. I have no idea about the outcome. Maybe you do.

James Arthur Herbert was born on July 20, 1924 in Fairmont, West Virginia. He is currently married to Alice Herbert and they have three children, all girls. Mr. Herbert served in the United States Army for 33 years and currently resides in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He fought in World War II, The Vietnam War, and The Korean War. Herbert had a very interesting and demanding childhood. His four sisters had domestic work or advertising jobs. His one brother was involved in marketing vegetables and his younger brother was not old enough to work. Herbert himself was assigned three paper routes and went around mowing lawns to make money. His whole family was adjusted to hunting for jobs though. He attended JN elementary school, which was in walking distance from his home. He was expected to learn and graduate to move on to a junior high school in the city. His school was rated pretty high in the state, and Herbert contributed to the band by playing the trombone. He was commissioned into the United States Army two days before he turned 18. Herbert’s family was satisfied with him joining the army because it had a good reputation. They understood that it was his duty as a healthy youngster. Herbert joined the army because of his father’s experiences in the 28th division during World War I. His father was proud of his service, which influenced Herbert to join as well. He also had a thought that one of the service academies would accept him for his good academic achievements. Obviously he was accepted, and he attended the US military academy at West Point from July 18, 1942, to June 5, 1945. He was trained to be a leader of combat soldiers at West Point. After graduation, he headed to Fort Benning, Georgia where he finished off as an infantry officer. Then he was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry. They headed for the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan, which never actually occurred. His infantry then took place of a lieutenant platoon. The army was a unique experience so Herbert had no idea what to expect going into it. He did adjust to his situations very well because there was no alternative. He had stern supervision from upperclassmen from the military academy, so he was smart and adjusted to army life quickly and successfully. Herbert understood that one has to kill soldiers or drive them off the hill you are trying to capture no matter who they are or how you do it. He used artillery and machine guns, and he knew it was a wild experience but also a very deadly one. The missions for Herbert came one right after another, so he didn’t have much spare time. Mr. Herbert also didn’t receive any R&R, which stands for rest and recuperation. This was because he was not in Korea long enough to earn it. He was shot and badly wounded within a couple of months of being there. He spent more time in the hospital than in Korea! His injury almost turned his wife, Alice, into a widow. The first bullet that struck him was right through the neck. It went in one side and out the other. Fortunately, the bullet missed the vital arteries, veins, and bronchial tube and it just caused a lot of bleeding. The second bullet struck him in the clavicle and tore up his right shoulder. The third bullet then proceeded to blow out the deltoid muscle that is what you use to lift your arm. A fourth and final round struck him through the arm as well. In this battle in Korea, several were killed and about 30 people were wounded so only 40 able bodies were left to carry the dead and assist the wounded. Herbert, being in charge, ordered his infantry to move to a tank platoon that was waiting for them. He walked holding his fingers in the holes of his neck to stop the excessive bleeding. Some of his soldiers were walking and holding their intestines in with their hands. Herbert was in the hospital from April 1951, until November that same year. He spent seven months recovering from his injuries that almost got him killed. He went back to the states to go to Walter Reed Hospital to get fixed up. When he was released, he went right back to business by going back to Fort Benning. For him personally, there was more combat in Korea than in Vietnam. However, Mr. Herbert did experience combat in short increments and over a long period of time in Vietnam. He had five different tours in Vietnam. He was shot at and missed in Vietnam when on the other hand, in Korea, Mr. Herbert was shot at and hit. The combat styles in The Korean and Vietnam War were different too. There was only a comparison when the U.S. forces were sent to Vietnam in 1965. Mr. Herbert worked directly with the province chief in Quang Nam Province. The chief had gotten a master degree at Michigan State University. He had studied the Vietnamese language, so later on when he had to deal with the Vietnamese leaders, he got along very well with them. He could talk partly in English and partly in Vietnamese. When coming back from Japan, he said the soldiers were treated normally. Coming back from Vietnam was a different story. Mr. Herbert said the soldiers were in a sense spat upon and were very discredited for their service. A common name they were referred to as was baby killers. When he came back from Korea, he was treated normal. Mr. Herbert said when soldiers come home now the situation is so different. He elaborated by saying there is a high respect for people who have helped defend for freedom. Mr. Herbert was involved in the 506th Airborne Battle Group. During the time he was there, it was located at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 506th was part of the 101st Airborne Division. It had no battle activity at the time Mr. Herbert was there. His group was in training mode at the time, but it was ever in active combat. He was the Operations Officer for a period of time. He said that you had to keep the men sharp and ready to go into combat. In 1970, Herbert was placed in the battalion headquarters in Alaska. He explained that the headquarters had a battalion commander and a small staff. Then above that, there was a regimental headquarters that had a regimental commander and his staff. Above the regimental headquarters, there was US Army Alaska. That was a larger headquarters with a major general and a staff of about a hundred. Herbert listed some of the medals he received during his time of service. He explained that he got some medals just for assignment. Mr. Herbert said that you got a World War II Victory Medal if you were in the service when that happened. He got an Asiatic Pacific Medal because he was in the Philippines that would merit a service ribbon and the medal that would go along with it. Since he went to airborne school, Mr. Herbert got parachute wings. Two others of his many medals included the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. For his service in Japan, he got the Occupation of Japan Medal and a Purple Heart for his wounds. He obtained two presentations of the Distinguished Service Medal, one for Vietnam and one in the Pentagon. Mr. Herbert said that medals come at all times, and if you perform well, you were generally rewarded. In Mr. Herbert’s twenty-ninth year of service, he became a Brigadier General. After Mr. Herbert retired from active duty, he spent six years raising money for the USO. The USO was a service to the military forces. Mr. Herbert, we would like to thank you for your time and heroic acts in your 33 years of service. We would also like to thank you for allowing us to interview you for the Veteran’s History Project.