#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Earl R. Hufford

The Army drafted Earl Hufford in 1951. He went to Camp Pickett, Virginia, for basic training, as well as some medical training. Hufford received more medical training, such as learning how to do autopsies, while at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Hufford eventually deployed to Korea. On the ride over he was seasick the whole way. When it was his turn for guard duty, shipmates had to tie him to the ship so that he would not fall overboard because of how sick he was. When he landed in Korea, Hufford first helped the corpsmen take care of the servicemen during the invasion of Inchon.

Hufford later transferred to the 11^th Evacuation Hospital in Wonju, South Korea. He had a license to be a minister and at first, he assisted the chaplain. Hufford started a newspaper for the hospital and helped the chaplain with his services. He then helped with the injured and assisted with surgeries. North Korea often bombed and specifically targeted the hospital, leading them to take its red cross marker down.

Hufford also went to North Korea where he helped take care of injured North Korean soldiers. After this, he went back to the evacuation hospital and then was transferred to a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital Unit.

Hufford discharged in 1953. He later received letters from patients he treated and even the president of South Korea, thanking him for his service. Hufford went on to work as a gardener and then as a head custodian. He also helped found a local chapter of the Korean War Veterans’ Association.

Hufford passed away in 2007.

More of his story can be found at http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.10176/

We honor his service.

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Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

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Contributors

Editor: Kaylee Hogsed

Fact checker: Andre Willey

Graphic artist: Kimber Garland