Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
4:45 | T.J. Martin left his home in South Carolina when he graduated as he was drafted into the Army in 1950. The Korean War would take him across the Pacific to Japan where he would do some teaching, before ultimately landing in Korea to join the 38th Infantry Regiment.
Keywords : college teacher 2nd Infantry Division Korea Ambush Lieutenant Panmunjom
T.J. Martin had already lost many men and the Chinese were taking even more prisoners. Thanks to some quick thinking and some good teachers back home, he was able to talk his way out of captivity, but he wasn’t out of the woods yet. Part 1 of 2
Alive, but captured, T.J. Martin is questioned by his captor and gave a very frank answer. His opposition to Communism would make him a target as he was going to spend over 2 years in captivity.
With few options, T.J. Martin had to make a move to get out of the ditch. In spite of taking a hit from a grenade, he made it to a larger group and they’d attempt to escape the massacre, but many of those men would not survive. Part 2 of 2
The Chinese People's Volunteer Army had begun to push back against UN Forces in Korea, and T.J. Martin would be there, present for the Battle of Hoengsong. His column was moving out and he would be on the last Jeep, but the oppressive fire led to him taking cover in a ditch. Part 1 of 2
The North Koreans had captured hundreds of soldiers and kept them in a prison camp that was also a tactical target for the American Air Force. It became unfeasible to keep the prisoners there, so they began marching for the North Korean headquarters. T.J. Martin recalls not everyone being able to survive the trip. Part 2 of 2
T.J. Martin was marched north to Camp 1 in NW North Korea, along the Yalu River. He recalls what he considered the mercy of his captors, and fellow prisoners’ comparison to their treatment as captives of the Japanese years prior.
While in Camp 1, the North Koreans attempted to indoctrinate T.J. Martin and his squad. He tells the story of his attempt to resist this and his punishment.
T.J. Martin was trying his best to resist the indoctrination attempts of the North Koreans, so they sent him to Camp 2, just north of Camp 1. There, they had different methods to try and break him. He remembers his time there before being relocated again, as well as participating in Operation Little Switch where North Korea would exchange wounded prisoners with the U.N. Coalition.
After spending nearly 2 years as a prisoner of the North Koreans, T.J. Martin would finally be freed. Sadly, getting back to America would not be as easy as he’d hoped.
