Calvin “Cal” Lindburg
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Calvin "Cal" Lindburg, October 28, 1926
Korean Conflict: Medical Corps, U.S. Army
In 1951, after Cal tried to enlist in the army, navy and air force (apparently they were all full up) he was surprised to be drafted into the army. He remembers going to the Round Butte School where his mother was a teacher and interrupting her class to tell her good bye.
Cal headed to Fort Louis in Seattle, Washington for basic training. On his first furlough Cal hitchhiked back home to get married, barely making it to the courthouse in time to get the marriage license. After the wedding, he returned to Seattle and was then sent to Fort Sam in Houston, Texas to be trained as a baker; but he was very sick from the flu and missed baking school. That’s how he happened to have a chance to become a medic instead.
In Texas Cal received what passed in those days for medical training. Mostly Cal remembers giving shots to long lines of soldiers. He recalls one guy who was so scared that he tightened his muscles and broke the needle.
When it was time for his overseas assignment, Cal went from Texas to Fort Ord, California and shipped out on the USS General J.C. Breckinridge troop ship bound for Tokyo, Japan. He remembers looking back at the Golden Gate Bridge and watching it grow smaller and smaller. He realized he was leaving his country behind. A lot of guys were sick on board the ship. Rough seas caused food trays to slide down the tables and then back again – sometimes it was hard to see what they were eating as it slid by.
As it happened, all of those onboard were going on to Korea, but Cal was one of ten chosen to stay in Tokyo. He really thought he would have to be in the war and says this was an answer to prayer. Tokyo was interesting. Vehicles were driven on the left side of the road which caused Cal some close calls when he returned home and had to remember to drive on the right side. Most of his duty was at a dental clinic where he was in charge of the office. He recalls one particular night when a group of three or four rough guys came to the all-night center and ordered him to come out to the street. Cal isn’t sure why he went out, but he did, and they circled him. One had a knife. Luckily a buddy came by and got around behind the group, kicked the dagger out of the guy’s hand and the group ran. Cal felt very lucky his buddy came by.
The best part of being in Tokyo was finding a good English speaking church where he attended with his good friend, Robert. Cal also got to climb to the top of Mt. Fuji. A sign said you were a big fool if you didn’t climb the mountain but a bigger fool if you climbed it a second time. Cal only climbed it once. One time just before Cal was granted “Soldier of the Month” in Japan, a surprise roll call caught him not ready. He went out the back door and for some reason the inspector didn’t notice Cal’s bunk wasn’t spiffed up. He said he lucked out again.
In 1952 Cal was discharged at the rank of Corporal and shipped back to Seattle. On that voyage he was assigned some office work and made a comment about the stupid old colonel who gave him duty while others had nothing to do, not realizing the officer was right behind him. The colonel was interested in reading about Eisenhower being elected President and didn’t hear what Cal said. Cal said he lucked out once again by not being caught in the act. When Cal arrived in Missoula, his wife Alice and her dad picked him up to bring him home to Ronan.
Cal had many friends from his time in Tokyo and kept in touch through letters with some of them, but eventually they got separated and lost track of each other.
Cal said he didn’t like being drafted one bit and wouldn’t try to enlist if he had it to do over again, but he has never been sorry about his military service. He served his country and has no bad feelings. He said he would advise young people considering the military to think about their future plans; service wouldn’t hurt them and could really help them.
Thank you for your service, Cal.
