My father served in the Korean War in 1952-1953. While on the front he took a good number of photos. From what he stated, film from the front was often confiscated or sometimes lost, so today there are not nearly as many surviving photos as compared to the number actually taken during that time. This page contains approximately 250 photos that my father took (both from the front and from training in the US). Also included (towards the bottom of the page) are letters sent home from the front and other Korean war related materials. I have a good amount of other material that I plan to add over time. My father was very proud of his service. I set this page up for him a number of years ago and it allowed him to reconnect with fellow soldiers and others who had also served during that time. I will keep this page going as I know he would have wanted that and I also believe it will provide a small glimpse as to what life was like on the Korean front in the early 1950s.
At the moment the photos are somewhat disorganized. It is my intention to get them better organized but this will take some time.
1. Army guard at Koje-Do enemy prison camp (at Koje-Do Island).
2. Army guard at Koje-Do.
3. Another Army guard at Koje-Do.
4. 17th Inf. in Korea.
5. Me (Joe roberts) at a front line bunker in the Khumwha Valley (1952), North Korea.
6. Me at a MLR bunker in the Khumwha Valley (1952), North Korea.
7. Mail from home for Joe Roberts in a Main Line of Resistance (MLR) bunker in the Khumwha Valley ( mid 1952).
8. Me (Joe Roberts) in a reserve area behind the MLR in the Khumwha Valley.
9. Me (Joe Roberts) in another reserve area behind the MLR, North Korea.
10. MLR (Main Line of Resistance) in the Khumwha Valley. Hills in the distance are enemy held.
11. Another shot of the MLR in the Khumwha Valley.
12. MLR in the Khumwha Valley (1952), North Korea. Enemy postions are on the left of trench,bald spots are from U.S. artillery fire.
13. Guard tower at Koje-Do prison camp.(early 1953).
14. View of Koje-do enemy ( N.Koreans) prison camp.
15. View of mess hall (prisoners) at Koje-Do enemy prison camp.
16. Koje-do enemy prison camp (at Koje-Do Island).
17. Koje-do prison camp.
18. Koje-Do prison camp.
19. Koje-Do prison camp.
20. More of Koje-Do prison camp. Smoke is from camp mess kitchen.
21. Machine gun bunker on the MLR in the Khumwha Valley, North Korea.
22. Bunker on the MLR in the Khumwha Valley. Enemy held hills in the distance.
23. Machine gun bunker on a old railroad bed on the MLR.
24. Our Korean mascot while in one of the reserve areas.
25. N.Korean prisoners being escorted to another area.
26. N.Korean prisoners at Koje-Do.
27. More N.Korean prisoners.
28. N.Korean prisoners at Koje-Do.
29. N.Korean prisoners at Koje-Do.
30. Papasan (a civilian resident) with his cow.
31. Papasan with his cow.
32. Shot of Koje-Do prison camp from guard tower.
33. Squad tent at a reserve area behind the MLR.
34. A S. Korean soldier
35. S. Korean soldier attached to our company.
36. Another S. Korean soldier.
37. S. Korean soldiers in our outfit.
38. U.S.artillery hits on Chinese positions in the Khumwha Valley (1953), North Korea.
39. Guard tower at Koje-Do prison camp.
40. Bunker on a rail bed on the MLR in the Khumwha Valley. Enemy positions are just beyond the tall trees.
41. A replacement 1st. Lt. for 'C' Co. 17th Inf.
42. A member of 'C' Co. 17th Inf. in MLR trench on the MLR in the Khumwha Valley.
43. 'C' Co. 17th.Inf. cleaning weapons in a reserve area.
44. Gourmet dining in a MLR bunker in the Khumwha Valley.
45. Members of 'C' Co. 17th. Inf. cleaning weapons in a reserve area.
46. A ROK soldier and a G.I. 'C' Co.17th. Inf.
47. A G.I. of 'C' Co. 17th. Inf. Reg.
48. 'C' Co. tent in a reserve area behind the MLR.
49. Two members of 'C' Co. on the MLR in the Khumwha Valley.
50. 'I'd rather be home' 'C' Co.G.I. on the MLR in the Khumwha Valley.
51. A 'C' Co. sgt. giving some 'advice' to a 'C' Co. member in a reserve area.
52. A member of 'C' Co.in a reserve area.
53. 'C' Co. members cleaning weapons in a reserve area.
54. A ROK soldier attached to 'C' Co. giving a G.I. a trim in a reserve area.
55. A U.S. artillery hit on enemy positions, Khumwha Valley, N.Korea .
56. Frank Yakashima,a buddy,in a reserve area,'C' Co.
57. A 'C' Co. G.I. in a reserve area.
58. A rail line bunker in the Khumwha Valley,'C' Co.
59. Another rail line bunker,MLR,Khumwha Valley.
60. Ah,those nasty bugs.A reserve area for 'C' Co.17th.Inf.
61. A time to write home,reserve area 'C' Co.
62. Two members of 'C' Co.cleaning weapons on a rail line bunker on the MLR,Khumwha Valley.
63. ROK Soldier.
64. "C" Co. GI on front line in Khumwha Valley.
65. Joe Roberts at Seattle WA beach awaiting new assignment.
66. "Tenting Tonight" reserve area behind front, Khumwha Valley.
67. 30 cal. light machine gun bunker overlooking front on Khumwha Valley. Hills in the distance are owned by the enemy.
68. US artillery hits on Chinese positions, Khumwha Valley.
69. More US artillery hits on Chinese positions, Khumwha Valley, 1952.
70. Front line trench, Khumwha Valley. Hills to the left are Chinese positions.
71. Frank Roosevelt, a full blooded Navajo Indian. Killed in action in 1952.
72. PFC Joe Roberts, front line bunker, 1952.
73. Frank Roosevelt, a full blooded Navajo Indian at machine gun bunker, Khumwha Valley.
74. Frank Roosevelt, Khumwha Valley, 1952.
75. PFC Joe Roberts, tent area at Koje-Do Island prisoner camp.
76. Members of "C" co. at front line bunker 1952.
77. Frank Nakeshima, "C" Co. 17th Infantry, Khumwha Valley.
78. Front line trench at Khumwha Valley, 1953.
79. GI of "C" Co, 17th Infantry Reg., Korea 1952.
80. Pvt. Joe Roberts at Seattle, WA Beach 1952.
Many of the photos (actually these are scans of color slides) below are large format. Some of them have suffered some degradation (being that they are over 50 years old), however most of them are in remarkably good condition!
81. Typical North Korean landscape. Rear area.
82. Rear area photo.
83. Oops...
84. Writing home, reserve area.
85. Taking care of the wounded, rear area.
86. Driver and friend.
87. Army reserve area with those "famous" rice paddies.
88. Another shot of "oops".
89. The "luxury" of having an air mattress.
90. Army reserve area near Imjim River.
91. Reserve area.
92. Me (Joe Roberts) with my sniper rifle.
93. My front line "jewelry".
94. Me, Khumwha Valley bunker, 1952.
95. Moving up to the front line.
96. Me (Joe Roberts, PFC) in reserve area.
97. Souveniers to send home.
98. In a Korean village.
99. Me (Joe Roberts) in a reserve area, 1952.
100. Me (Joe Roberts) with a B.A.R. in a front line railroad bunker. Mountains in the distance are owned by Chinese troops.
101. Typical North Korean scenery.
102. Me (Joe Roberts) at a front line bunker in the Khumwha Valley with Sgt. Hanks in the background.
103. Passing through a Korean village.
104. Me (Joe Roberts), Khumwha Valley front.
105. A couple of 'C' company 17th infantry buddies at an old railroad bed bunker in the Khumwha Valley (front line).
106. A small encampment two miles behind the front.
107. A fellow infantry man, 'C' Co. 17th Infantry Reg.
108.A buddy (the one with the helmet) at a Khumwha front line bunker. Three days later,he was a member of a night 30 man combat/ambush patrol. After penetrating 1/2 mile into enemy territory,they ran into a North Korean patrol. In the ensuing firefight, he was hit by a enemy bullet in the temple just behind his eye sockets. He was rushed back to the front and choppered to a MASH unit, they saved his life, but he would be blind for life.
109. A 'C' company buddy with a B.A.R.
110. Me (Joe Roberts) with a B.A.R. near Khumwha Valley.
111. Sgt. Hanks, our plt. Sgt. in a reserve area near Jane Russel Hill.
112. Sgt. Hanks at a front line bunker, Khumwha Valley front.
113. Bunker on an old railroad bunker. Hills in the background are Chinese owned. Khumwha Valley, 1952.
114. Another shot of scenery behind the front.
115. Our Sgt. Hanks working on some unknown project. Khumwha Valley, late summer 1952.
116. Willy Peter (W.P.) mortar hits on a spotted North Korean Patrol (Khumwha Valley).
117. A 'C' company buddy at a Khumwha Valley bunker.
118. A bunker, Khumwha Valley front.
119. Me (Joe Roberts) and a 'C' Co. buddy at a machine gun bunker on an old railroad bed. Khumwha Valley front line. Chinese are on the distant hills.
120. A 'C' Co. buddy in a reserve area behind the front.
121. A khumwha Valley front line bunker.
122. My (Joe Roberts) extensive collection of front line "jewelry" .
123. Army depot and Korean Village.
124. A member of 'C' company 17th Inf.
125. Rear area, unknown people.
126. A view of Chinese held positions in the Khumwha Valley front line.
127. Me (Joe Roberts) at our Khumwha Valley machiine gun bunker at front line.
128. A few more hits on that North Korean patrol, Khumwha Valley 1952.
129. Bridge over Imjim River, rear area.
130. Me (Joe Roberts) in front line trench, Khumwha Valley.
131. Sgt Hanks on a hot summer day, Khumwha Valley.
132. Me (Joe Roberts ) in a reserve area,with that much prized mess kit.
133. Sgt. Hanks in our front line machine gun bunker, Khumwha Valley .
134. Enemy hill in the Khumwha Valley, N. Korea.
135. Me (Joe Roberts) on the old railroad front line machine gun bunker.
136. Joe Roberts (PFC.) with a buddy in a front line machine gun bunker, Khumwha Valley.
137. The ‘exciting’ Main St. in Uijongbu, N. Korea.
138. Our Sgt. Hanks with my sniper rifle in a reserve area a mile behind the front.
139. Me ( Joe Roberts } near a front line bunker, Khumwha Valley.
140. A small fishing village on Ko-Je-Do Island.
141. Imjim River dam where we were given swimming lessons before moving up to the front,why,don’t ask me.
142. Saved uniform.
143. Close up of uniform emblems.
144. Letter of Transmittal.
145. Map of War Zone. This item donated by Ed Puplava.
The photos below were added February 2008. The photos below represent the bulk of all the photos available for posting.
146. Typical Army barracks at Fort Lawton, Washington State.
147. Fort Lawton, Washington State.
148. The old pot belly barracks at Fort Lawton, Washington State.
149. Another pic of barracks at Fort Lawton, Washington State.
150. A view of Fort Lawton, Washington State.
151. Fort Lawton, Washington State.
152. Me ( Joe Roberts) at the coast of Washington State.
153. Another view of the Army barracks at Fort Lawton, Washington State.
154. A buddy.
155. Fort Lawton, Washington State.
156. A G.I. at Fort Lawton, Washington State.
157. New recruits at play at Ft. Devens, MA.
158. A buddy at Ft. Monmouth, N.J.
159. A buddy at the seashore, Ft. Lawton, Washington State.
160. Shore line near Ft. Lawton.
161. A 'C' Co. G.I.
162. A 'C' Co. G.I. in a reserve area.
163. A buddy at a reserve area in Korea.
164. A welcome package from home.
165. A reserve area in Korea.
166. A front line bunker in the Khumwha Valley,N.Korea.
167. Frank Yakashima on the front in the Khumwha Valley.
168. Enemy postions on hills.
169. A bunker on a old railroad bed on the front.
170. Another shot of enemy held hills in the Khumwha Valley, N.Korea.
171. A reserve area.
172. A view of enemy held hills in the Khumwha Valley,N.Korea.
173. A company reserve area.
174. A buddy in 'C' Co.
175. A view of the Khumwha Valley in N.Korea.
176. A 'C' Co. medic,great men to have around.
177. A buddy in a reserve area.
178. Me (Joe Roberts) at the seashore at Ft. Lawton, Washington.
179. One of our 'C' Co seargents with Frank Yakashima in the background.
180. U.S. artillery hits on enemy positions.
181. A hotel suite compared to front line bunker.
182. A reserve area.
183. Another reserve area behind the front.
184. Back from a rare shower while in reserve.
185. A buddy in a reserve area.
186. A view of Koje-Do enemy prison camp on Koje-Do Island off the south coast of Korea.
187. A bivoauc at Ft. Dix, N.J.during basic training.
188. A R.O.K soldier buddy in Korea.
189. Basic training buddies at a bivoauc at Ft. Dix,N.J.
190. A 'C' Co. buddy in Korea.
191. A R.O.K. soldier.
193. A R.O.K. soldier at Koje-Do enemy prison camp.
194. A R.O.K. soldier.
195. A R.O.K soldier on the front line in the Khumwha Valley.
196. 196 A W.P. ( Willie Peter) hit on enemy position.
197. Road leading to the front.
198. Some buddies at Ft. Dix, N.J. basic training.
199. Sore feet after a 20 mile hike to bivouac at Ft. Dix,N.J.
200. A photo of Koje-Do enemy prison camp.
201. A buddy at Koje-Do.
202. A rear area photo.
203. Another R.O.K. soldier.
204. G.I. taking a break.
205. A buddy at Koje-Do.
206. A R.O.K. soldier in a reserve area.
207. A G.I. in a reserve area.
208. Me, Joe Roberts, on guard duty at Koje-Do prison camp. Yes, it was cold in Nov.
209. A photo of Koje-Do enemy prison camp.
210. A G.I. taking a break.
211. Squad tent living quarters at Koje-Do for U.S.troops.
212. A bit of barbed wire at Koje-Do.
213. A buddy at Koje-Do enemy prison camp.
214. Another R.O.K. soldier at Koje-Do.
215. Another photo of a buddy.
216. Typical Korea scenery.
217. Two buddies at Koje-Do.
218. A R.O.K. soldier.
219. Me (Joe Roberts) and a buddy at Koje-Do.
220. A R.O.K soldier at Koje-Do.
221. Typical Korean scenery.
222. Me ( Joe Roberts) at a reserve area.
223. Prime living quarters in Korea for infantry men.
224. Squad tents in a reserve area.
225. Koje-Do enemy prison camp for N.Koreans.
226. Keep it clean.
227. Good living compared to the front line.
228. A R.O.K. soldier at Koje-Do.
229. Sgt. Hanks and a buddy on the front line.
230. Front line in the Khumwha Valley.
231. Reserve area behind the front.
232. Enemy held hills.
233. Practice makes perfect in a reserve area .
234. Knocked out bunker, hills in the backround are enemy held.
235. A reserve area.
236. Sgt. Hanks at a front line bunker in the Khumwha Valley front line.
237. A shot of the Khumwha Valley from the front line.
238. Getting ready to move back up to the front from reserve area.
239. A R.O.K. soldier at the Koje-Do enemy prison camp.
240. A 'C' Co.buddy in a reserve area.
241. Another buddy.
242. Keep them clean, stay alive, maybe .
243. Another 'C' Co. buddy.
244. Another 'C' Co. medic.
245. A 'C' Co. buddy.
246. Just behind the front in the Khumwha Valley.
247. More N. Korean scenery.
248. A 'C' Co. sgt.
249. Another view of a reserve area,not sure what the G.I. is doing in the foreground.
250. Bivouak at Ft. Dix basic training.
Below are some additional photos and other items related to my father's time in Korea.
251. Bayonet. This book contains hundreds of photos of the Korean War.
252. Bayonet (last page). The photo from the last page of the Bayonet book.
253. Currency obtained while in Korea and overseas.
254. A photo of Co. I, Fort Devens MA, 12 Oct 1951 (this is a large format photo). My father is in the front row, 5th in starting from the left.
255. My time as a sniper in Korea in the GCA (The Garand Collectors Association), Fall 2009 issue
256. A panoramic view of the Kumwha Valley, October 1952 (this photo courtesy of Charlie Malone).
257. Photo of my father (probably from around the time of basic training).
258. Photo of my father with the lady who raised him (she was "Gran" to him and referred to in the letters).
259. Photo of my father with the lady who raised him (she was "Gran" to him and referred to in the letters).
260. Newspaper note from the local paper.
My father wrote quite a few letters to home during the time he served in Korea. Thirty seven of them survive to this day, however as they are now nearly 60 years old some are not in the best of shape. These letters describe everything from basic training to gruesome battle scenes and time off in the reserve area. They will help to give the reader some idea of what it must have been like to be in the Korean war in the early 1950s. Note: these letters are totally unedited, and some contain content that would be considered offensive and/or politically incorrect by some visitors to this site. I am leaving these letters completely original as they provide a small picture of how things were in that time; this is part of history.
Letter from 27 April 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 11 June 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 12 June 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 16 June 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 23 June 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 05 July 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 12 July 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 28 July 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 02 August 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 16 August 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 23 August 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 30 August 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 04 September 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 15 September 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 18 September 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 01 October 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 12 October 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 19 October 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 23 October 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 27 October 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 06 November 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 08 November 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 14 November 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 22 November 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 17 December 1952 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 18 January 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 28 January 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 02 February 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 20 February 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 08 March 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 16 March 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 25 March 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 16 April 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 19 April 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 21 April 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 03 May 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
Letter from 08 May 1953 (click on the image at left and the letter will open in a new window).
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