Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Charles Bernard Rangel Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Korea; Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Lewis, Washington
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/89089
Born and raised in Harlem, Charles Rangel followed in his older brother’s footsteps, enlisting in the Army in order to supplement his family’s income. Joining the 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, a racially segregated battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment, his unit landed in Korea in August 1950, and began pushing north--encountering dead bodies along the way, a grim foreshadowing of what was to come. During the Battle of Kunu-ri in November 1950, his unit was surrounded by Chinese forces, pinned against a mountain. In his interview, he describes the chaos and horror of that life-changing experience. As he says, "It was beyond your worst nightmare… nothing could be as frightening as that day."
Interview / Recording
Share
-
PlayDeciding to enlist in the Army Reserves because of fear of draft; skill of Army recruiter in persuading him to join; wanting to send money back to his family. 00:02:12.2 - 00:04:20.2
-
PlayAssigned to the 503rd Field Artillery Battalion; serving with a segregated unit; segregation in the Army did not end in 1948. 00:06:41.5 - 00:08:50.6
-
PlayArrival in Pusan; traveling north by truck; seeing African American casualties; fear. 00:19:08.4 - 00:22:12.0
-
PlayKnowing war was winding down; trying to survive until then; victory being ill-defined. 00:23:06.4 - 00:24:28.1
-
PlayStarted thinking about going home; confronting bitter cold; Battle of Kunu-ri; being trapped by Chinese forces. 00:24:30.0 - 00:30:05.0
-
PlayBecoming a de facto leader; American Air Force begins strafing; c-rations are dropped; finds himself in hospital being congratulated for heroism. 00:30:05.1 - 00:35:29.4
-
PlayFrom that day on, becoming a new person; reflecting on why his life was spared; resolving to never complain about anything in the future. 00:35:29.5 - 00:37:44.3
About this Item
Title
- Charles Bernard Rangel Collection
Names
- Patrick, Robert
- Rangel, Charles Bernard
- Library of Congress
State of Birth
- NY
Home State
- DC
Headings
- - Rangel, Charles Bernard
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Notes
- - Veteran's biographical form lists race/ethnicity as "African American, Puerto Rican".
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- Black or African American
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: 503rd Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division
- Location of Service: Korea; Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Lewis, Washington
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1948-1952
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as an artillery operations specialist and led 40 men from his unit to escape the Chinese during the battle of Kunu-ri.
Materials
- Video: MiniDV [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 06/20/2013)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 06/20/2013)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/89089
Cite as
- Charles Bernard Rangel Collection (AFC/2001/001/89089), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video