James Sharp
Bio
James Sharp joined the United States Marine Corps in 1951 and was one of the few African Americans in his company. He held his position in the 7th Marines in high regard and was treated well, despite the fact that integration in the Marine Corps had only occurred a few years earlier. While on the front lines in Korea, he defended a patrol unit during a Chinese ambush. Later, he revisited Korea long after his military service. He firmly believed that his contributions during the Korean War were worthwhile, especially considering Korea’s success since then. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps for twenty years.
Video Clips
African American Marines
James Sharp reflects on his basic training and speaks positively about his assignment. He mentions that he was the only African American in his U.S. Marine platoon at the time, but once he arrived in Korea, he was joined by four other African Americans, making a total of five in his company. He expresses sadness that two of them were killed while they were there.
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Integration in the Marine Corps
James Sharp discusses the official integration of African American soldiers into the U.S. Marine Corps before the Korean War. He notes that the Korean War was the first conflict in which African Americans could participate in combat, both as part of a unit and as individuals assigned to various units. He provides an overview of the contributions of African Americans in previous wars.
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Treatment of African Americans in the Marines
James Sharp describes his experiences with fellow U.S. Marines from New York City. He emphasizes that Marines are a unique group of individuals and notes that he was never singled out or treated poorly. He offers his perspective on the differing attitudes toward human beings in New York during that time compared to the deep South, arguing that this contributed to his positive treatment by his peers.
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Average Day Defending an Outpost
James Sharp describes an average day while defending a trench for an 83-day period as a machine gunner. He recounts frequently facing mortar fire during both day and night, as well as experiencing sniper fire whenever soldiers emerged from the trenches. He highlights the importance of staying alert and being aware of any movement near his position. He details the need for a machine gunner to accompany patrol units.
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Machine Gunner Expertise
James Sharp recounts an ambush scenario that his unit encountered one night while on patrol. He remembers how Chinese machine gunners were stealthily positioned on a dike in the rice paddies, biding their time until half of the patrol had crossed before launching their attack. He highlights his own marksmanship skills and describes how he was able to eliminate the gunners on the dike, effectively securing the area.
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Reflections and View of Korea Today
James Sharp reflects on the Korean War and discusses its positive outcomes. He describes his revisit to Korea as a life-changing experience, as he was able to witness the significant development that has taken place since the war. He notes that many soldiers carry painful memories from their time in combat, often questioning the value of their service. However, after seeing Korea's progress during his visit, he is now certain that his service was worthwhile.
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