Resch, Gerald: my armed forces experiences (March 4, 2005)
Interviewer: Miller, Bryce
Interviewee: Resch, Gerald
ABSTRACT: Major Gerald Resch Born Winnipeg Manitoba December 9 1931. Father served in medical corps in second World War. Air Cadet in high school completed up to grade 9 prior to joining Canadian Forces on July 6th 1949 at 17 years old. After recruit training in Shilo Manitoba, volunteered for newly formed airborne unit in 1950 which trained in Shilo Manitoba. Trained Korean airborne volunteers. until he decided to go Korea with the P' Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in 1951 at age of 19. Discusses strengths and weaknesses of training. Trained with British 25 pounders (Same as WWII). Finally left for Korea in April 1952. traveled by train to Seattle from Shilo, then on troop ship General M. Walker for a 2 week voyage to Japan. Stopped in Yokohama Japan for 3 days. Discusses venturing into Yokohama from troop ship without authorization. From Yokohama to Pusan. then on to Inchon in May 1952. First reaction to Korea was smell of Pusan harbor. Describes state of local population and living conditions in Pusan harbor. From Inchon they went to Camp Britannia, a British staging Camp north of Inchon. On leaving Canada, Major Resch was a Lance-Bombardier, and after Yokohama incident was demoted to Gunner. Describes work in running and repairing communication lines. Difficulty dealing with Korean terrain, and harassing fire from enemy. Lines were in constant need of repair, due to artillery fire, tank movement, weather and other things. Equipment was not appropriate. Recalls mailing his wife to send him a pair of plastic/wire cutters from Canada. Equipment was old and worn out. Discusses scrounging superior equipment from American forces. Discusses falling ill with "Manchurian Fever." Describes time in military hospital and MASH unit. Americans were better equipped to handle medical conditions than Canadian military. Returned to the line 1 month later. Describes reliance on American and British military for support in broad range of areas. Discusses quality of Canadian equipment and confidence in Canadian military to supply equipment. Describes period when firing in support of American regiment. Discusses moral issue. Describes conditions on troop ship on the trip home. Explains "Forgotten War" stigma.
An interview/narrative of Major Gerald Resch's experiences during the Korean War. Major Resch served with the Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. Interview took place on March 4, 2005.
Rank: Major.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 35.68536, 139.75309
- One original audio cassette in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- RG_446
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- November 29, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
