"The weather conditions were at best deplorable." (Video Interview, 41:05)

James T. Markalunas

James Markalunas [2007] War: Korean War, 1950-1953 Branch: Marine Corps Unit: VMR-152 (Marine Transport Squadron), 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW); VMFN-513 (Night Fighter Squadron), Marine Air Group 12 (MAG) Service Location: El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, California; K1, K3, K18, and K8, Korea Rank: Sergeant Place of Birth: CA

While in high school in Aspen, Colorado, James Markalunas worked in a power plant and later studied engineering. After he enlisted in late 1950, the Marines assigned him to a transport squadron to maintain radios, based on his background. In Korea, he was based in Pusan. The planes he worked on provided air cover for the 1st Marine Division and ground support, as well as making interdiction runs and dropping night-time flares. (The latter missions were the only time he got into the air.) Markalunas found the weather in Korea to be another kind of enemy, as the extreme conditions played havoc with his equipment.