Oral+History

Oral History __Albert Henkel(Grandpa): Times is the Korean War__

My Grandpa Henkel today is 71 years old and was involved in the Korean War. He enlisted voluntarily into service. When he was in the war, he was a barber and he still ran his barber business. In the Korean War, the U.S was involved in Korea and the U.S is still involved today. The Korean War is still in conflict and the U.S still has troops.

I asked my grandpa 7 questions


 * 1) Why did you enlist?
 * 2) What were you involved in during this war?
 * 3) Did they use your barber skills?
 * 4) Did this effect your barber business?
 * 5) Did you witness anything disturbing?
 * 6) Did your life change after this?
 * 7) What did your family think of this?

He did answer all of these questions with the following answers....


 * 1) "I enlisted because I knew about the draft and I thought that if you were drafted, you were put right on the front line."
 * 2) "I really wasn't totally involved in warfare, but I was stationed in Washington during the war incase they needed me."
 * 3) "They did indeed have me cut some hair but not much."
 * 4) "The Korean Conflict didn't effect my business because there were plenty of other barbers to help."
 * 5) "Thankfully, I did not witness anything disturbing in real life but I did see some gruesome photos."
 * 6) "My life didn't change at all because I wasn't involved overseas. But I did start enjoying time with my family more after the war."
 * 7) "I didn't really see my family much in service and we didn't mention the war afterward, but I assume they wouldn't recommend it after not seeing me in a while."

My reaction to this interview wasn't that shocking. He wasn't involved unlike my other grandpa but he still enlisted. I was shocked by that and now i think it was smart. he wasn't put in any danger. I don't think I would have done anything that courageous and risky in my life. He was put in condition with the force and he had to be healthy so I expect him for another 20 years!