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Mid-Ohio Valley veterans discuss how technology has impacted warfare

The Williamstown Lions Club placed 180 flags at Tomlinson Park on Saturday in honor of Veterans Day. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

PARKERSBURG — A lot has changed since the 1930s. In fact many of what is now considered normal everyday items were only dreams in those days. One of these changes is the advancement of technology, especially the technologies available in war times.

“I used to write home to my folks, and I did a few times make a phone call home, but if you called you had to plan three to four days ahead of time and it cost $25 to talk on the phone for three minutes,” said Master Sergeant Paul Stone, of Williamstown, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

Stone completed 24 years of service, after enlisting in the Army Air Corps at 17 in 1946. In 1947 the Army Air Corps became the U.S. Air Force.

“Well there were no phones in Korea, so my communication was strictly by letters and it took a few weeks to reach me,” said Glen Kimble, of Williamstown, who was with Army Corps Transportation and was stationed in Korea during World War II, where he loaded and unloaded ships to distribute war materials.

“My wife wrote me every day and I still have those letters to this day,” said Kimble.

Retired Sergeant Major Jay Houser, of Williamstown, served for 32 years with the Army National Guard spent 14 months in Iraq helping to rebuild the country. (Photo Provided)

Even in 1953, letters were still the dominant means of communication home.

“My wife would send me film of her and my children and I would get it developed,” said Spec 5 Arthur Tucker, an Army veteran, who spent time in Korea in the years following the Korean War.

Tucker said receiving her letters were the most exciting part of his days.

By the time the Iraq War began in 2003, members of the U.S. Armed Forces were able to email home, and phone calls were a bit less scarce, although in other countries it still cost $10 for only a few minutes of conversation.

Technology is more than just cell phones, computers and satellite systems, it is also expressed through gear.

Spec 5 Arthur Tucker, of Williamstown, who served eight years in the Army, spending a lot of that time in Korea following the Korean War. He specialized in heavy equipment mechanics, but later went on to become Helicopter Crew Chief. (Photo Provided)

“We didn’t have bulletproof vests or high tech equipment during World War II, but World War I and II helped us to figure out what needed improvement,” said Stone.

Retired Sergeant Major Jay Houser, of Williamstown, served for 32 years with the Army National Guard, but he said his time in Iraq was the most impacted by the technological changes.

“It was a one sided war, the army of Saddam Hussein wouldn’t have stood a chance in face to face combat,” he said.

Houser said his unit was tasked with rebuilding the country.

“We built schools, orphanages, humanitarian things as well as FOBs (forward operating bases).”

This was Spec 5 Arthur Tucker’s bunk headboard from his 13 month tour in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, that he kept decorated with photos of his family. To the right, is a large stack of letters from home he received. (Photo Provided)

Houser said while travelling the country of Iraq, their technology kept them alive.

“IEDs (improvised explosive devices) were a big fear of ours, but thanks to our satellites, we knew where every IED went off in the country and were able to identify a pattern, which kept our men safe while traveling,” Houser said.

“The most advanced technology we had access to was radar,” said Tucker.

Houser said although they had access to night vision goggles, satellites and other technology, much of what they used included older equipment.

“We had 1970s dump trucks and heaters from the Korean War that we travelled with, and still pitched up canvas tents,” said Houser.

The Williamstown Lions Club placed 180 flags at Tomlinson Park on Saturday in honor of Veterans Day. Jim Waybright stands in front of the 21 flags for members of the Bravo Company. Some of those members have passed on and others are still alive. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

“We even used paper maps and grease pencils even though other units we travelled with had jumbo tents, screens and tanks to launch drones from,” he said.

Among other changes seen was transportation. During World War I, World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, troops were deployed on boats. The Iraq War deployed troops in aircraft.

Kimble, who was in Korea at the time, said that because of the typhoon in Okinawha, his unit was unable to travel for seven days.

“There just weren’t any of the turbo engine aircrafts and helicopters you see today,” said Tucker.

According to Tucker, at that point in time the U.S. was just beginning to carry troops into combat by air.

“There were 21 troops in each one and we could carry sling loads (cargo carried beneath a helicopter) for 15 miles or so,” said Tucker.

Tucker said one of the biggest problems he faced with helicopters was that they had to land very slowly and were prone to small arms fire.

Many of veterans are also thankful for the technological advances such as the internet that has kept them in contact with each other for years after the war has passed. Capt. Jim Waybright, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War, is one of those veterans. Waybright was a commander for the Bravo Company 3/56th Infantry 101st Airborne Division.

“I had not talked to the company for over 30 years, until one member who was good with computers tracked us down,” said Waybright.

According to Waybright, those who were a part of the company are as close to him as family.

“We hold a reunion, but it is not just for those who served, it is for their wives, some of which are widowed now but still come join us, their kids, siblings and other family members who wish to come together and remember those now passed,” said Waybright.

Waybright expressed that he feels everyone should join the armed forces.

“You learn so much about the world, while serving and so much about yourself. In some ways wish I had served before college, because it was the best education I ever received,” said Waybright.

Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com

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