Veteran's History Project - James Detrick

James Detrick

2nd Class Petty Officer

U.S. Navy

1950-1962

Editor's Note: This story is one of many American Veteran accounts published in The Sidney Sun-Telegraph. The writer, who is from Potter, is conducting the interviews as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project.

James A. Detrick enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April 1950 at Cheyenne, Wyo. He selected to serve in the Navy because he wanted something different from what he had. He wanted to be a Sea-bee, but served on a ship instead.

He went to San Diego for boot camp. He recalled that going into boot camp was very different for him because of the distance from home, the warm California weather and the challenges of the training he was undergoing. He found that all the others around him were in a similar situation and they just did the best they could. He recalled that there was a constant physical fitness regimen to follow.

"We'd get up in the morning and take a cold shower, pick up your crew and get orders to do what you had to do." He remembered that there was a Navy Master Chief leading the training and the company. He got through it by working hard and working with the others in his group.

Once out of boot camp, he was assigned to a ship called the USS Diachenko (APD 123). This was described as a Crosley class, high speed transport ship, or a fighting u-boat.

The first deployment for Detrick was for Korea on this vessel. The ship went to North Korea and the Manchurian border, Seoul, Inchon, Pusan and others. They delivered food, ammunition, and supplies to the above ports where they could be sent on the fighting elements. He said that the main thing his ship did was move the underwater demolition teams (UDT) around the harbors, conducting raids. The UDT (Navy Seals) would diffuse mines, set mines and conduct their assignments in Pusan, Inchon and other harbors, in acts of sabotage against the enemy. He was in combat here. Several of his friends were killed.

He recalled that the weather in Korea was very cold and that he was not prepared for that – mentally and physically. The clothing issued him was inadequate to keep he and his peers warm. He said that he was there for the better part of three years. He said that he received the South Korean Combat Medal and the South Korean Presidential Unit Citation. He was not a prisoner of war.

Detrick said that he had little contact with his family. He didn't think about them that much. He said that the food was good. They had "C" rations much of the time. Often, several sailors would toss their main meal can into a pot of boiling water and after a while, when the cans were hot, they would take a can, open it and enjoy the food.

He still has a small can opener used to open the cans. He called his the "John Wayne can opener" or a P-38. He said that stress was always present with the level of danger they faced. He didn't think about it much, but focused on getting the job done. He didn't carry anything as a good-luck charm.

For entertainment purposes, he enjoyed playing cards, dancing, pretty girls, and consumed various amounts of alcohol. There was no entertainment provided for the sailors. When he got time off, he would be with his fellow sailors at the bars and entertainment places. His travel to other places was only to places where the Navy sent him.

A game of chance was concocted when the ship came to port. It was called the Anchor Pool. For wagers of either $5 or $10, the winner was determined when the ship's anchor first touched the water – the number of seconds it took. He won the Anchor Pool twice.

An event took place when another ship had delivered some fruit and cattle. When his ship was backing out, he turned his boat sideways in the harbor. When that happened, the ship was fired on and the crew had to get to the 50 cal machine guns to return fire.

Detrick said he got to the machine guns first and kept them firing during the whole fire fight. The man he helped on the boat was named Ledbetter. Detrick agreed with Ledbetter about the danger. After the firefight, Ledbetter reminded Detrick that his skivvies had become soiled.

He was an expert with the 50 cal machine guns and could disassemble them and put them back together. When the gun barrels got too hot, he would unscrew them from the receiver and dip them into the sea water, then after cooled, screw them back on to the receiver and resume firing.

Detrick said that he has a scrapbook of photos and citations. They are at his mobile home, but he couldn't recall who could bring them in. The pictures would be useful in identifying other people and places. He had pictures of his boat and the USS Iowa, and a battery of 16-inch guns. He did not keep a personal diary.

After Korea, his ship was sent to Vietnam. In his service in Vietnam, work was in the Mekong Delta. This would be in the early phases of the Vietnam conflict.

His ship was on the southeast side of the country. The assignment was to navigate the Mekong Delta from its mouth to the lake in the northwest end of the delta. He and his shipmates brought dead and wounded French soldiers out of the combat area. He said they were often fired upon several times and returned fire as they could.

During some of the transports, he helped tend to the wounded. His ship delivered the dead and wounded to a hospital ship that was positioned out on the South China Sea. Detrick said he received medals for his service there.

Detrick said that the day his tour of service ended he was at the Submarine Group Headquarters at Mare Island, Calif. There was a ceremony for him and some other sailors. After a dinner, he and his friends went to the Chief's quarters and "laid down a good one." He said he might have drunk too much alcohol.

He remained at Mare Island Ship Yard. The Navy retained his services as an auto mechanic. They sent him to auto mechanic school and he stayed for several more years repairing vehicles. He did not take advantage of the G.I. Bill for college or advanced schooling.

Detrick said that he remembered a friend named Harold James Marinette. He was his commander/skipper. There were a lot of mustangs (enlisted sailors who became officers). He said that he kept friendships for 50 years but couldn't elaborate. He is a member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He attended several funerals as a member but was not a part of an honor guard or firing squad. He did not attend any re-unions.

Following his service in and out of uniform, he went to the Napa and Napa Valley area in northern California. He lived there approximately 40 years. Detrick bought a service station and repaired cars. He said that at one point he then purchased a ranch in Napa Valley. He lost the ranch when divorcing his second wife.

Detrick said that he applied much of his military training to work skills. His auto repair, engineering work, and the scrapping business, were all supplemented from his training. In addition he made many friends and learned that if you wanted something, you "went after it."

Good job, Petty Officer 2nd Class Detrick, and thank you for your service!