Korean War Project

Note: Original postings on the Korean War Project from 1995 to about 1999.

Background

Bob Parker, USN 1948-1953


All of those Frigates (PF-XX) were used by the Russians during WWII.Then
parked in Tokyo Bay to rust away. When the Korean War started they 
ordered them refurbished and recommissioned for duty. 

I went on board the Burlington PF-51 in the summer of 50. I believed we
recommissioned it in the late summer or fall of 1950. I believe we were 
part of ComDesRon8, a part of the 7th Fleet. But that was a long time 
ago. We then went to Wonson Harbor and reported to SOPA. 

We spent our time going up and down the coast shelling trains and RR 
tracks. We also went to the mouth of the Yalu River with a destroyer one
night to shell the Chinese. The lights of Vladavostok USSR were only 
about twelve miles away and very visible. 

We didn't have mush fire power, 3" deck mounted guns were our heaviest,
and not gyro controlled. We couldn't hit a bull in the butt with a 
shovel if the water was rough.

The one thing I do remember was we had about 189 men aboard and I was 
the only regular Navy. All the others were Reserves. I was the senior 
yeoman aboard (YN2).