I Spent 33 Months as a POW in North Korea

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Cecil Phipps was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on May 20,1930. After high school, he worked at several jobs before enlisting in the US Army in 1950. He attended basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas before being sent to Okinawa, Japan.
On August 1, 1950 he was deployed to Korea, arriving on a Japanese fishing boat in Pusan where he was assigned to K Company, 35th Infantry Regiment. After being separated from friendly forces, he was captured as a POW by Chinese soldiers in November 1951.
Phipps was transferred from camp to camp before eventually arriving at a large POW compound in Pyoktong County, North Korea.
Cecil Phipps would spend a total of 33 months as a POW during the Korean War. He was eventually released on August 28, 1953.
Interview Recorded on July 26, 2022
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Video Credits:
Interviewer - Greg Corombos
Director of Photography - Jon Hambacker
Editor - Daniel Taksas

Опубликовано:

12 сен 2022

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Комментарии : 207

@americanveteranscenter Год назад

Please subscribe to our channel so you don't miss future interviews with American heroes.

@airgunfun4248 Год назад

I would have liked to see the picture in the thumbnail full size

@danielhughes5517 Год назад

I really love watching these interviews and I really appreciate the uploads!!! Sometimes I can barely hear though. Not complaining just saying some of us are half deaf 😁

@glenvalley4326 Год назад

I hope American Veterans Center can interview soldiers who were sent to China after WW2 .

@traxplays6780 Год назад

Very unfortunate Korean War veterans lack recognition even to this day. It truly is the forgotten war. I will never forget the sacrifices of those who went before me.

@hawkeyeten2450 Год назад

That's why sharing these stories is CRITICAL. Let's get them while we still can! Hopefully sooner than later they WILL get the recognition they so rightfully deserve.

@xladder3972 Год назад

@@hawkeyeten2450 we must use the power of the internet the right way

@irishparade Год назад

Not in the Marine Corps. Every Marine knows about them and their brilliance and courage.

@xladder3972 Год назад

@@irishparade beautiful

@yzdatabase4175 Год назад

what war? there was no war.

@HabitualButtonPusher Год назад

Men like this is why this country exists. Thank you Cecil, your country thanks you.

@cwr8618 Год назад

And why South Korea exists

@codeman9145 Год назад

And look what it has become now, a bunch of selfless selfish cry babies and spoiled brats who want this country to turn into the rest of the world

@Playsfor1 Год назад

This interview is worth so much, the history coming from this mans mouth is incredible. Thank you so much for serving this nations sir.

@armchairemperor4777 Год назад

That end statement hit home pretty hard, "I did nothing in the prison camps to discredit my country"..

@jim_dog Год назад

My grandfather served in the Army in Korea. He was from a town not far from Cecil in Iowa. I will never forget the stories he would tell including leaving out of Seattle and watching the shore get farther and farther away, not knowing if he would ever see it again. He passed away last year and watching these reminds me of the stories he would tell.

@rodneyhanbaum697 Год назад

My Father was a POW for 2 and half years in North Korea. He was transferred numerous times to various POW CAMPS finally ending up at the most northern POW camp in North Korea. upon his release he spent many months in Walter Reed hospital recovering from his injuries from being beaten,tortured,and starved by the North Koreans. Dad died 4 January 2009. That's the day his nightmares stopped when our Lord and Savior wrapped his Loving Arms around my dad.

@davidunger1173 Год назад

Thank you for sharing. Your father is happy now and in heaven.

@alethiapotter9218 Год назад

❤️

@sportcardcollector9599 Год назад

God Bless All The Brave Americans That We're Called Upon To Protect The Fatherland So You And I Can Live Free God Bless The United States Military And Her Allies 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

@tedbarker3179 Год назад

Taken POW during the May Massacre, May 15 1951. Was with the 23rd Infantry Rgt 2ID. Many men from his unit died during that fight.

@larryspiller6633 Год назад

God Bless your Father, You too. Peace.

@margarethisbeloved4018 8 месяцев назад

My uncle was Mr Phipps age when he was also a POW in the Korean War. My uncle told my father that they made them march barefoot in the snow. Thank you, Sir, for sharing as I wasn't able to ask him about it as he suffered from PTS ❤️

@garyp.7501 Год назад

Yet another story from the lips of a hero. So glad you folks are capturing these stories before these folks pass on.

@Matt-416 Год назад

Hero!! My heart beats for individuals like this. Thank you for your service.

@FlyingEagle41 Год назад

Cecil Phipps, thank you for your service. I am glad you made it home.

@mickmacy6161 Год назад

A Patriot under siege. Thank you, Sir

@banjo1241 Год назад

Thank you, sir!

@-.Steven Год назад

Incredible story. Thank you Cecil!

@thomasdoran2363 Год назад

These are so upsetting - but are historic in their content . . . . . . Hope his life is happy, calm & peaceful these days

@fightingtosurvive6527 Год назад

Our Dad was a WW2 and a Korean war veteran. Bomber pilot. RIP, Dad. 💙 There is not a whole lot of world war II veterans alive and the ones that are are quite old. Our dad would be 100 years old this year if he was alive.

@wannaduckfin Год назад

Thank you for this interview. And thank you sir for your service!

@Stratsrule Год назад

Was an absolute honor to see this. Ty

@susankee3938 Год назад

Many thanks to American Veterans Center for interviewing Mr. Phipps. I am so humbled and grateful to know him and so grateful that he is giving voice to the horrific experiences that American POWs went through in the prisoner of war camps in North Korea,. I thank Mr. Phipps for giving voice to the thousands who perished in the North Korean communist POW camps due to massive starvation and lack of medical care. It is so important that we do not forget those who are still Missing in Action since their remains are still being held by the North Korean communists. Over 7,500 Americans are still missing in action (MIA) and over 5,300 Americans are MIA in North Korea. As a Korean, whose family was saved by these heroes who laid down their lives in the Korean War, we owe a debt that can never be paid to these heroes who sacrificed immeasurably for our freedoms. South Korea was saved from the grips of communism, thanks to so many who gave their lives to save South Korea. May God always bless our Korean War veterans, Korean War fallen heroes and their families, We Koreans should never forget the tremendous sacrifice of American lives given for our freedoms. May God always bless America.

@dprkno.1 4 месяца назад

남괴 선전만 되풀이하고 있다 ㅠㅠ

@xvsj5833 Год назад

Thank you for sharing your story, service, sacrifice and courage for freedom 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

@ocularpressure4558 Год назад

What an amazing and brave man thank you so much for your service

@kylepicks8624 Год назад

What a wild story. Thank you for these interviews! And thank you Sir for your service!

@SGobuck Год назад

(Spent 30 days in jail for vandalism and raising cain) Marines: "sorry but we can't take troublemakers" Army: "You're exactly what we're looking for, come on in!"

@fightingtosurvive6527 Год назад

😄🤣😀

@martinworkens6130 Год назад

I was in Marines in 1966-68 with guys from Philadelphia who were convicted and could choose jail time or Marines.

@andrewsmith3257 Год назад

lol..I kinda figured it would be opposite

@rtrobinson88321 Год назад

Thank you mr. Phipps for your service. God bless you

@fanny3942 Год назад

💖💖💖”I did not do anything to discredit my country”👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💖💖💖

@newsnowmilitia1147 Год назад

THANKYOU SIR YOU ARE A TRUE SOLDIER A WARRIOR YOUR STRONG AND AN AMAZING MAN GOD BLESS YOU AND ALWAYS BE WITH YOU BY YOUR SIDE!!

@dave3156 Год назад

What a story! Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice. Glad you survived and made it home

@Lordestroyer Год назад

My half Korean children thank you. You saved their lives.

@bighproductions0 Год назад

God bless you 🙏✌️

@donaldg.freeman2804 Год назад

Good interview! It was an interesting personal story.

@lukecp Год назад

America is the nation it is because of Hard Men like him. Salute Sir!

@johnspizziri1919 Год назад

Thank you, Corporal.

@mosin9105 Год назад

Thank you

@skiptrace1888 Год назад

Thank you so very much for your service! Your bravery is unquestioned.And your love for your country was well reflected in your actions! God bless you, sir!

@stinger76262 Год назад

Sir, YOU are a true hero!!

@teddychalgren Месяц назад

Thank you Cecil.

@DarylW426 Год назад

Myself and your country are proud of you sir. Thank you and God bless.

@hangin-in-thereawesome4245 Год назад

Thank you for your service HERO!

@Madeves Год назад

Thank you for your service Sir!!!!

@HLLRAZRMuGGZ-xg5co Год назад

Thanks sir for your service.

@jonm2416 Год назад

I'm honestly shocked that the Chinese didn't just kill them. These stories always amaze you one way or the other.

@chrisjanzen6082 Год назад

Thank you, Sir.

@devooski4751 Год назад

Thank you for your service and god bless.

@DwightBurditt Год назад

Thank you for your service 👍

@hilldwler420 6 месяцев назад

Welcome home sir and thank you .

@eaglesnest2881 Год назад

Thank you Sir You are a true hero .God Bless You My Brother. Thank you for serviceSir.

@thomasfx3190 8 месяцев назад

Cecil you are a very brave man, I’m sorry you had to go through all that, I can’t imagine what I would have done in your circumstances. Glad you made it home, thank you for your service.

@thomasbunner5214 Год назад

It is amazing he escaped being captured. Several hundred known living US POW's and MIA's were simply written off at the end of the war. Some were seen and reported as being shipped on trains Northward into Soviet Russia, and were never seen or heard from again.

@bch5513 Год назад

"Luckily" he was captured by Chinese.

@patriciafoster784 Год назад

Thank you sir hugs

@alethiapotter9218 Год назад

❤️ & honor 🎖 🥇 🙏

@ottoso7044 Год назад

It’s sad ppl never talk about Korean War smh then ofc Vietnam vets were mistreated e being SENT to fight smfh bless all our troops 🇺🇸

@jayo3074 Год назад

No one cares about the Korean war. The Vietnam war is more important

@jayo3074 Год назад

@Captain Beano pointless war

@ottoso7044 Год назад

@@jayo3074 why we went to Korea ?

@ottoso7044 Год назад

@@jayo3074 but didn’t ppl say Vietnam was pointless war too ? The politicians lost that war not our troops

@jayo3074 Год назад

@@ottoso7044 they were both pointless and we lost both wars lol

@fazole Год назад

The Korean War was a brutal place to be. I hope the veterans get the same veneration they deserve and more publicity is shown on the war like WW2 and Vietnam. A lot of guys were not really trained to fight at first because they were occupation troops in Japan and the idea was that nuclear weapons had ended conventional land warfare. My dad told me how the baracks had grass growing up through the floor and that they were trained mostly by corporals. He was in the motor pool do avoided being in combat but he could hear it and witness artillery. Bugging out was always a threat too.

@sunnybeach4837 Год назад

God bless you sir

@bigbrotherbob Год назад

Excellent interview, where is the rest?

@RobertA-gv5nk 10 месяцев назад

My Dad Reymundo Almendarez was POW for 34 months. 25 Inf division 35th regiment B co. POW Camp 1. Passed away 05-20-2020

@wyattsdad8561 Год назад

They would do this again to our soldiers.

@antz6130 Год назад

Thank you sir

@user-ls9nm9uy5s 3 месяца назад

Hello Sir, my father's older brother Dave served our Country with you in Korea. He saw action and was in it. Thank you for your story. I am sorry you were in a POW camp for so long. Thank you so much for serving your Country ! I am proud of you all !!

@jessejames7757 4 месяца назад

Thank You

@MrArtmundus Год назад

It takes some balls to spend 33 months in North Korean POW and make it through. I salute you sir and I'm not even an American!

@fightingtosurvive6527 Год назад

Korean, not Corean.

@MrArtmundus Год назад

@@fightingtosurvive6527 I just changed it! Sorry for my mistake. The only excuse I have, is because in Spanish it's with "C". That's why I mixed it up.

@jamespike5161 Год назад

Any history buff hears “boxcars” and knows it’s about to get bad.

@airgunfun4248 Год назад

Incredible. ''I'm proud I did nothing to discredit my country.'' Well I'd have to say you sure didn't MR. Phipps. And he tells the story very honorably as well. The Korean ''police action'' was some unique and hard fighting in the records of our armed forces. The human wave charges and the weather just a couple of things that stand out. Very worthwhile viewing thank you

@jayn9559 Год назад

My Grandpa Ed, was in a German POW camp for three years. The man was a solid influence on me n life. This man is a example of American grit or what's left of it

@williampatience9524 Год назад

Thank you! You and everyone who got captured have my utmost respect. You truly went to hell and back. I was stationed at Camp Stanley and I remember that the winter's there were brutal. I'm sure it took something out of you.

@AVI80R907 Год назад

Many thanks to this man for sharing his story. It brings tears to your eyes. My grandfather, a marine, spent time in China at the end of WW2, but before the Korean War. I have not been able to find much information on US soldiers in China during that time period, but he spoke of dealing with Russians at some point during his time there. He never talked about the details of his time there until he developed dementia. It was all very horrible, and I respect and appreciate so much what all these men sacrificed. It's so important to share their stories.

@glenvalley4326 Год назад

E.B. Sledge wrote a 167 page book with the title 'China Marine' It is published by OXFORD University Press. E..B Sledge who was a marine was sent to China when WW2 was over. He spent over a year in China. The book is about his experience and life as a soldier in China. He also wrote the famous book With The Old Breed.

@americanlocation2011 Месяц назад

Thank you Cecil for all you sacrificed on our behalf, you will ALWAYS be a hero in my book. Anyone who says a man captured in war isn't a hero is a moral coward.

@tommychew6544 Год назад

I like history and I think this might be the first person Korean War POW telling I have ever heard. After WWII I wonder how many Americans actually allowed themselves to be captured? I'm glad to have heard it for sure! I was a Marine in the 80's and knowing what I knew of history I would have fought to the death surrounded or not, I guess that's why we were known as Devil Dogs back during WWI. If these people weren't brutal to begin with, they wouldn't be doing what they are doing. He must have had an angel looking out for him to have survived the way he did. The chance of death from surrendering was high I don't think I could have taken it. I would like to shake his hand but, I couldn't have done it. The paradoxes of life can really get strange can't they. It all depends on your outlook when you are seeing them happen for yourself and where you are at that point in your life.

@mikelubin148 Год назад

You don't know what you would have done you served in peace time and to say you don't know if you would shake his hand shows your character.

@terminatorelites4969 Год назад

The world thanks u fine sir✝️💪

@Earth11111 Год назад

My grandpa was in this war he told Me some wild stories

@hawkeyeten2450 Год назад

Make sure you get the stories written down if possible.

@Earth11111 Год назад

@@hawkeyeten2450 he’s passed I wish I could now

@hawkeyeten2450 Год назад

@@Earth11111 If you remember them at all, get them jotted down. It's better than nothing.

@Earth11111 Год назад

@@hawkeyeten2450 oh I do remember them

@Earth11111 Год назад

@@hawkeyeten2450 I really wanna gov he close the records they got the government and see where all they got him documented being at camps and the battles he was in i know they got records of it they got to have

@rikijett310 Год назад

Sir, thank you endlessly for your service and may God bless you always!!!! ✝️🇺🇸✝️

@joshlovern756 Год назад

Hero

@slee5714 8 месяцев назад

I am truly sorry you had to endure such unbearable hardships. I am sorry that so many had to suffer and die. Thanks for fighting for my native country .

@dondamon4669 5 месяцев назад

So your a native American?

@dna7500 Год назад

Wow!

@justinsane7832 Год назад

next video can you crank up the volume a bit more? i love these stories, but sometimes hard to hear :/

@entertainme7523 Год назад

Thank you, Mr. Sane

@Scanlon1981 Год назад

Would love to heard this man's opinion on the current state of out nation.

@entertainme7523 Год назад

you don't need someone else's opinion, just open your eyes 😂

@princessbabibear4794 9 месяцев назад

It would be an honor to hear his opinion. Would likely have insight and advice we desperately need to consider and spread like wildfire.

@chillis28 Год назад

Much respect Sir!!

@HEAVYMETALJSTYLES Год назад

In a time where my faith in Mankind is wained, faith in our current government is also, The words of our Veterans about their hardships and grit, I do find the strength to carry on and I discovered hope again. Salute to you Sir and to all our Veterans.

@boligard Год назад

I remember when I worked at Walmart a few years a Korean war vet came in and was sitting on the bench next to me and without me asking he just started talking about the war which made me excited because I always want to talk to ww2/Korean/Vietnam vets but I'm always to shy to ask them. Unfortunately I got yelled at to get back to work because I was way past my break time God bless our veterans.

@bch5513 Год назад

Raising cane to point got a small jail stint. Sounds like you would have fit right in with the marines. At least back then for sure.

@svyalinirnhut890 11 дней назад

Thank you for the great story. I am Chinese myself, both of my grandfathers served on the other side of this war, one was a mechanic, the other was an officer directing propaganda efforts, although he still got wounded in an air raid (He just passed away 2 years prior at the age of 99). Earlier in the war, many of the Chinese soldiers and officers who got sent to Korean frontline were ex-KMT defectors, or previously served as auxiliary troops under the Japanese, North Korean army also used extensive ex-Japanese auxiliary troops, so they were all experienced and quite brutal. So sorry about the summary executions and the terrible POW treatment. For the millet porridge provided though, Chinese soldiers weren't doing any better, there was a saying in China that the army was all about "millet and rifle", that's what everyone ate. Most of those guys later had it pretty bad during the Cultural Revolution (not for this particular reason but karma I guess).

@afreightdogslife 5 месяцев назад

"I am proud to have served my country, and I am proud that while I was in custody, I didn't do anything to discredit my country." Well said, my fellow veteran, well said. You are a man of honor, I salute you.

@donlum9128 Год назад

Thank you for your service.

@susanbrown5004 Год назад

Wow what a story🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

@mickmacy6161 Год назад

So proud of you, Sir! Thank you for serving. You were on the front lines of Freedom. Your sacrifice is noted in Heaven.

@bigleaguejew3101 3 месяца назад

Iowa proud 🇺🇸🌽

@mcnallica2382 3 месяца назад

Thank you for my freedom, hero 🇺🇸

@joelpierce3940 Год назад

I had a late friend, who was a very young Marine and was a POW. The Chinese broke a toe a day, with Vicegrips, trying to get information from him, of which he knew nothing. He was swapped in a prisoner exchange and was told to crawl the quarter mile to the US lines or be shot. He crawled.

@LoneElk 8 месяцев назад

thats crazy, is there any coverage on his story?

@FFEMTB08 Год назад

My grandfather fought in Korea.. he never talked about it.

@gogart3 Год назад

Atta boy

@eancurtis9333 Год назад

Wow

@helioselexandros 7 месяцев назад

God bless america

@shyxzo2006 Год назад

I’m from iowa wanting to join the army soon it’s awesome to know a hero Iike this has come from the same place as me given me more motivation can’t wait to enlist

@mickeysanders74 7 месяцев назад

/My uncle Paul Gordon was captured brought home to Kentucky for burial. A miracle.

@bryantadkins8720 Год назад

What part of Iowa was he from?

@entertainme7523 Год назад

the part where they grow corn

@fightingtosurvive6527 Год назад

@@entertainme7523 Why are you trolling other people's posts? Go find a video that's more equivalent with your limited intellect.

@JohnSmith-xd8do Год назад

The North Koreans held a full scale Olympics games for the American POWs. I have the names and games played if you are interested

@entertainme7523 Год назад

no thanks

@aliensocks8789 Год назад

My mother was a caregiver for a pow Korean war . He was there for 5 years..

@bhall4996 Год назад

Terrible times made this ordinary man an unlikely hero.

@josiel152 Год назад

This soldier's story is pretty screwed up, must have forgot what happened between landing in Korea, doesn't say what month or year. Than he's suddenly facing the Chinese. Where south or north Korea? I'm going to assume he was in N. Korea when they were overrun. I think he was in N. Korea now he is a prisoner. Terrible experience.

@bhoran1152 Год назад

👍

@UHK-Reaper Год назад

Grandfather was a Korean war veteran. Only shared stories with me when I enlisted and got back from Iraq/Afghanistan. He was a radio artillery operator (radar) not sure exact nomenclature. But basically he said they had to try to go in front of friendly lines and when the Chinese or Koreans shot artillery they can map it as it flew overhead and radio to the friendly artillery behind them of the exact spot it originated from and return accurate fire. Told me one night of an attack that the Chinese coming down where so drunk and high you could buttstroke them in the face and take their rifle. They had what he called a duece &half (half track vehicle) that had a quad fifty on the back they called the meat chopper. He said they fired it so much one night the truck started sideways in the mud and it almost spun 90 degrees.

@alethiapotter9218 Год назад

❤️