Alvaro Almazo
Bio
Alvaro Almazo was from Colombia. He joined the military because he loved adventure but his family was distraught when they learned he was going to a war zone in Korea. He kept sending them letters, letting them know he was okay. He could not believe how devastated South Korea was, saying it was left to nothing. During the war, he saw intense fighting where he was one of the few that survived. He was stationed in Korea when he learned of the armistice signing via radio. He is proud of his service and is amazed with the growth of South Korea and hoped they continue to be happy.
Video Clips
Family Fears War
Alvaro Almazo describes being employed in an industrial job before enlisting in the military. He remembers he decided to join the military because he was adventurous. He remarks the military training was very difficult. He recalls his family was very scared when they learned he was going to a war zone in Korea but he told them God would provide and had proof of that when he came back.
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There was Nothing
Alvaro Almazo states his amazement at the destruction of South Korea. He says the country was bombed out and railways were turned to nothing. He notes Seoul was nothing as the Chinese and North Koreans took everything. He shares he would throw food to people with nothing.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1OmD8z20SQ&start=1074&end=1222
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/alvaro-almazo#clip-2
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Deadliest Battle
Alvaro Almazo recalls the worst battle he was in was Pork Chop Hill on March 23, 1953, in which the attack killed nearly his entire company. He remembers the Chinese attacked at night and he especially noted the artillery attacks. Because so much of his company were killed, he notes he had to be assigned to a different company.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1OmD8z20SQ&start=1436&end=1645
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https://koreanwarlegacy.org/interviews/alvaro-almazo#clip-3
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