Loannis Farazakis
Bio
Loannis Farazakis was born on March 10, 1928, in Greece. He joined the military in 1951 and served bravely in the Korea War. He discusses his lack of knowledge about Korea prior to his arrival. With the assistance of a translator, he shares his experiences on the front lines against North Korea. He describes the intense activity he witnessed during his time in Korea. While under enemy fire, he was struck by shrapnel and sustained a minor head wound. He expresses pride in participating in South Korea’s independence and is impressed by the remarkable economic growth the country has achieved.
Video Clips
A Piece of Missile to Keep
Loannis Farazakis recounts several scenes of fighting with the help of a translator. He explains how his company was targeted by North Korean artillery. He describes how his unit, along with an American jeep, came under fire. He mentions that he was not wearing his metal helmet during the attack and was struck by shrapnel in the head. Fortunately, he notes that he was not seriously injured.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMDTlGJxcRQ&start=1005&end=1164
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/loannis-farazakis#clip-1
Embed:
One Sentence Letter
Loannis Farazakis recounts his mother waiting for news from him while he was stationed in Korea. He shares that he wrote her a letter that consisted of just one sentence and sent it home. The letter read, "I am well."
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMDTlGJxcRQ&start=1386&end=1418
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/loannis-farazakis#clip-2
Embed:
Korea Then and Now
Loannis Farazakis expresses his amazement for South Korea's remarkable growth over such a short period. He is especially impressed by the country's economic development. He takes pride in having served in the Korean War and witnessing the South Korean people's journey toward becoming a democratic nation.
Share YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMDTlGJxcRQ&start=1446&end=1534
Share from this page:
https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/loannis-farazakis#clip-3
Embed: