CENTER FOR U.S. WAR
VETERANS' ORAL HISTORIES
Korean War
Victor T. Stella
Korean War Oral History Interview
US Army, 2nd Infantry Division, Ex-POW
Date: August 3, 2005
Interviewer: Carol Fowler
Summarizer: Katherine Gleason
Veterans History Project
Summary
Victor T. Stella served in the US Army from July 1946 to July 1948, and from November 1950 to September 1951. He was a Korean War Veteran and a recipient of the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal.
Stella was born in Youngstown, Ohio and enlisted in the Army at age eighteen, after graduating high school. He enlisted in order to be eligible for the GI Bill, which would pay for his college degree.
Stella was sent to Louisiana for Basic Training in July 1946, which lasted eight weeks. He described that military life was difficult, but he adapted well. After completing Basic Training, Stella was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey as part of an Infantry Medical Detachment. There, he worked in a maternity ward at Tilton General Hospital for a short time, before becoming a Clerk. Additionally, Stella was involved with the Information and Education Office, where he gave correspondence courses to soldiers who had not gotten their high school diplomas. He noted this was a great experience for him and helped him acquire skills for a career in teaching. Stella also became editor of the hospital’s magazine.
Following his first two years of service, Stella attended college while in the inactive reserves. He went to Seton Hall University, where he majored in English. In 1950, during his junior year in college, Stella was recalled to service to fight in the Korean War. He explained that being recalled to fight in Korea was upsetting, as he was newly married and wanted to finish school. After a three-week refresher course, Stella was deployed to South Korea. He was placed in Headquarters Company, which was part of the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.
[I’ve] never seen anything like this in my life…10,000 bodies all over the hills on this beautiful morning in Korea.
Stella had numerous harrowing experiences during his deployment. He fought in the Battle of Chipyong-ni, where the Chinese took up defensive positions on the hills overlooking American troops. Situated in the oval-shaped valley of Chipyong-ni, Stella described that American troops were like “fish in a barrel.” As a part of Headquarters Company, he was off the front lines and in the center of the oval, working as a clerk. After the Battle of Chipyong-ni concluded, Stella was tasked with checking for mines in the surrounding areas. Walking up the ridges of the battle site, he recalled that there were bodies everywhere. Stella stated, “[I’ve] never seen anything like this in my life…10,000 bodies all over the hills on this beautiful morning in Korea.” He noted that some of the bodies were charred from the use of napalm.
Four months after Chipyong-ni, Stella found himself once again surrounded by Chinese forces at Choan-ni. There, he was shot in the leg while trying to run for cover, and he crawled to a group of soldiers who made a makeshift stretcher out of field jackets to carry him. They attempted to escape through the hills but were eventually captured. During his first night in captivity, Stella recalled hearing a dying soldier cry for his mother. The next morning, the Chinese marched the prisoners back through the battle site, where Stella described that there were “bodies of American boys all over the place.” His time in captivity was evidently grueling given his injury, and he was provided little food and water. Stella was eventually able to escape with other prisoners, thanks to a major counteroffensive launched by United Nation Forces. He was rescued by Marines and sent to Japan for treatment. After recovering sufficiently, Stella was sent back to the United States.
Stella reflected on his experiences, understandably stating there were moments when he was very negative and bitter. Regardless, he explained he did what he had to, persevering (sometimes begrudgingly) because it was his duty. Stella expressed that he thinks himself very “blessed” for his deployment being very short, compared to others. The gunshot wound to his leg also missed the bone and major arteries, a lucky break given the circumstances. He credited these fortunate moments to the Novenas his wife Anne prayed for him while he was in Korea.
Stella also recounted a story from his deployment that he stated weighed heavily on his mind. He recalled being part of a small group that was sent ahead of the company. Stella and his group came upon a farmhouse, where they found a small boy and a baby living there. Their mother was dead inside the farmhouse. The officer in charge of the group had them leave rations for the boy and the baby, but stated there was nothing more they could do. Stella doubted those children survived.
Following his time in service, Stella went on to complete his degree and became an English teacher in West Orange, New Jersey. There, he and his wife raised six children.
Victor T. Stella died on February 18th, 2012.
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