I Spent 33 Months as a POW in North Korea | Cecil Phipps

[@americanveteranscenter]

Please subscribe to our channel so you don't miss future interviews with American heroes.

[@airgunfun4248]

I would have liked to see the picture in the thumbnail full size

[@danielhughes5517]

I really love watching these interviews and I really appreciate the uploads!!! Sometimes I can barely hear though. Not complaining just saying some of us are half deaf 😁

[@glenvalley4326]

I hope American Veterans Center can interview soldiers who were sent to China after WW2 .

[@traxplays6780]

Very unfortunate Korean War veterans lack recognition even to this day. It truly is the forgotten war. I will never forget the sacrifices of those who went before me.

[@hawkeyeten2450]

That's why sharing these stories is CRITICAL. Let's get them while we still can! Hopefully sooner than later they WILL get the recognition they so rightfully deserve.

[@xladder3972]

@@hawkeyeten2450 we must use the power of the internet the right way

[@irishparade]

Not in the Marine Corps. Every Marine knows about them and their brilliance and courage.

[@xladder3972]

@@irishparade beautiful

[@yzdatabase4175]

what war? there was no war.

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Men like this is why this country exists. Thank you Cecil, your country thanks you.

[@cwr8618]

And why South Korea exists

[@codeman9145]

And look what it has become now, a bunch of selfless selfish cry babies and spoiled brats who want this country to turn into the rest of the world

[@Playsfor1]

This interview is worth so much, the history coming from this mans mouth is incredible. Thank you so much for serving this nations sir.

[@jim_dog]

My grandfather served in the Army in Korea. He was from a town not far from Cecil in Iowa. I will never forget the stories he would tell including leaving out of Seattle and watching the shore get farther and farther away, not knowing if he would ever see it again. He passed away last year and watching these reminds me of the stories he would tell.

[@armchairemperor4777]

That end statement hit home pretty hard, "I did nothing in the prison camps to discredit my country"..

[@teddychalgren]

Thank you Cecil.

[@garyp.7501]

Yet another story from the lips of a hero. So glad you folks are capturing these stories before these folks pass on.

[@Matt-416]

Hero!! My heart beats for individuals like this. Thank you for your service.

[@rodneyhanbaum697]

My Father was a POW for 2 and half years in North Korea. He was transferred numerous times to various POW CAMPS finally ending up at the most northern POW camp in North Korea. upon his release he spent many months in Walter Reed hospital recovering from his injuries from being beaten,tortured,and starved by the North Koreans. Dad died 4 January 2009. That's the day his nightmares stopped when our Lord and Savior wrapped his Loving Arms around my dad.

[@davidunger1173]

Thank you for sharing. Your father is happy now and in heaven.

[@alethiapotter9218]

❤️

[@sportcardcollector9599]

God Bless All The Brave Americans That We're Called Upon To Protect The Fatherland So You And I Can Live Free God Bless The United States Military And Her Allies 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@tedbarker3179]

Taken POW during the May Massacre, May 15 1951. Was with the 23rd Infantry Rgt 2ID. Many men from his unit died during that fight.

[@larryspiller6633]

God Bless your Father, You too. Peace.

[@margarethisbeloved4018]

My uncle was Mr Phipps age when he was also a POW in the Korean War. My uncle told my father that they made them march barefoot in the snow. Thank you, Sir, for sharing as I wasn't able to ask him about it as he suffered from PTS ❤️

[@banjo1241]

Thank you, sir!

[@-.Steven]

Incredible story. Thank you Cecil!

[@fightingtosurvive6527]

Our Dad was a WW2 and a Korean war veteran. Bomber pilot. RIP, Dad. 💙 There is not a whole lot of world war II veterans alive and the ones that are are quite old. Our dad would be 100 years old this year if he was alive.

[@kylepicks8624]

What a wild story. Thank you for these interviews! And thank you Sir for your service!

[@susankee3938]

Many thanks to American Veterans Center for interviewing Mr. Phipps. I am so humbled and grateful to know him and so grateful that he is giving voice to the horrific experiences that American POWs went through in the prisoner of war camps in North Korea,. I thank Mr. Phipps for giving voice to the thousands who perished in the North Korean communist POW camps due to massive starvation and lack of medical care. It is so important that we do not forget those who are still Missing in Action since their remains are still being held by the North Korean communists. Over 7,500 Americans are still missing in action (MIA) and over 5,300 Americans are MIA in North Korea. As a Korean, whose family was saved by these heroes who laid down their lives in the Korean War, we owe a debt that can never be paid to these heroes who sacrificed immeasurably for our freedoms. South Korea was saved from the grips of communism, thanks to so many who gave their lives to save South Korea. May God always bless our Korean War veterans, Korean War fallen heroes and their families, We Koreans should never forget the tremendous sacrifice of American lives given for our freedoms. May God always bless America.

[@dprkno.1]

남괴 선전만 되풀이하고 있다 ㅠㅠ

[@wannaduckfin]

Thank you for this interview. And thank you sir for your service!

[@FlyingEagle41]

Cecil Phipps, thank you for your service. I am glad you made it home.

[@mickmacy6161]

A Patriot under siege. Thank you, Sir

[@Stratsrule]

Was an absolute honor to see this. Ty

[@rtrobinson88321]

Thank you mr. Phipps for your service. God bless you

[@dave3156]

What a story! Thank you sir for your service and sacrifice. Glad you survived and made it home

[@donaldg.freeman2804]

Good interview! It was an interesting personal story.

[@thomasdoran2363]

These are so upsetting - but are historic in their content . . . . . . Hope his life is happy, calm & peaceful these days

[@XHollisWood]

Thank you for sharing your story, service, sacrifice and courage for freedom 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@ocularpressure4558]

What an amazing and brave man thank you so much for your service

[@newsnowmilitia1147]

THANKYOU SIR YOU ARE A TRUE SOLDIER A WARRIOR YOUR STRONG AND AN AMAZING MAN GOD BLESS YOU AND ALWAYS BE WITH YOU BY YOUR SIDE!!

[@skiptrace1888]

Thank you so very much for your service! Your bravery is unquestioned.And your love for your country was well reflected in your actions! God bless you, sir!

[@johnspizziri1919]

Thank you, Corporal.

[@hangin-in-thereawesome4245]

Thank you for your service HERO!

[@DarylW426]

Myself and your country are proud of you sir. Thank you and God bless.

[@stinger76262]

Sir, YOU are a true hero!!

[@bighproductions0]

God bless you 🙏✌️

[@devooski4751]

Thank you for your service and god bless.

[@SGobuck]

(Spent 30 days in jail for vandalism and raising cain) Marines: "sorry but we can't take troublemakers" Army: "You're exactly what we're looking for, come on in!"

[@fightingtosurvive6527]

😄🤣😀

[@martinworkens6130]

I was in Marines in 1966-68 with guys from Philadelphia who were convicted and could choose jail time or Marines.

[@andrewsmith3257]

lol..I kinda figured it would be opposite

[@mosin9105]

Thank you

[@lukecp]

America is the nation it is because of Hard Men like him. Salute Sir!

[@HLLRAZRMuGGZ-xg5co]

Thanks sir for your service.

[@goudagrits]

I’m so grateful for your service. Thank you for sharing your experience!

[@Madeves]

Thank you for your service Sir!!!!

[@chrisjanzen6082]

Thank you, Sir.

[@Lordestroyer]

My half Korean children thank you. You saved their lives.

[@eaglesnest2881]

Thank you Sir You are a true hero .God Bless You My Brother. Thank you for serviceSir.

[@fanny3942]

💖💖💖”I did not do anything to discredit my country”👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💖💖💖

[@alethiapotter9218]

❤️ & honor 🎖 🥇 🙏

[@knunyabeasewhacks8744]

Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

[@chillis28]

Much respect Sir!!

[@restaurantattheendofthegalaxy]

Cecil you are a very brave man, I’m sorry you had to go through all that, I can’t imagine what I would have done in your circumstances. Glad you made it home, thank you for your service.

[@crystalheart9]

Thank you for your service Mr. Phipps.

[@jayn9559]

My Grandpa Ed, was in a German POW camp for three years. The man was a solid influence on me n life. This man is a example of American grit or what's left of it

[@RobertA-gv5nk]

My Dad Reymundo Almendarez was POW for 34 months. 25 Inf division 35th regiment B co. POW Camp 1. Passed away 05-20-2020

[@hilldwler420]

Welcome home sir and thank you .

[@donlum9128]

Thank you for your service.

[@fazole]

The Korean War was a brutal place to be. I hope the veterans get the same veneration they deserve and more publicity is shown on the war like WW2 and Vietnam. A lot of guys were not really trained to fight at first because they were occupation troops in Japan and the idea was that nuclear weapons had ended conventional land warfare. My dad told me how the baracks had grass growing up through the floor and that they were trained mostly by corporals. He was in the motor pool do avoided being in combat but he could hear it and witness artillery. Bugging out was always a threat too.

[@patriciafoster784]

Thank you sir hugs

[@DwightBurditt]

Thank you for your service 👍

[@bigbrotherbob]

Excellent interview, where is the rest?

[@Steven-c3n3m]

Hello Sir, my father's older brother Dave served our Country with you in Korea. He saw action and was in it. Thank you for your story. I am sorry you were in a POW camp for so long. Thank you so much for serving your Country ! I am proud of you all !!

[@pesttech-850]

God Bless this Man

[@AVI80R907]

Many thanks to this man for sharing his story. It brings tears to your eyes. My grandfather, a marine, spent time in China at the end of WW2, but before the Korean War. I have not been able to find much information on US soldiers in China during that time period, but he spoke of dealing with Russians at some point during his time there. He never talked about the details of his time there until he developed dementia. It was all very horrible, and I respect and appreciate so much what all these men sacrificed. It's so important to share their stories.

[@glenvalley4326]

E.B. Sledge wrote a 167 page book with the title 'China Marine' It is published by OXFORD University Press. E..B Sledge who was a marine was sent to China when WW2 was over. He spent over a year in China. The book is about his experience and life as a soldier in China. He also wrote the famous book With The Old Breed.

[@thomasbunner5214]

It is amazing he escaped being captured. Several hundred known living US POW's and MIA's were simply written off at the end of the war. Some were seen and reported as being shipped on trains Northward into Soviet Russia, and were never seen or heard from again.

[@bch5513]

"Luckily" he was captured by Chinese.

[@terminatorelites4969]

The world thanks u fine sir✝️💪

[@rikijett310]

Sir, thank you endlessly for your service and may God bless you always!!!! ✝️🇺🇸✝️

[@airgunfun4248]

Incredible. ''I'm proud I did nothing to discredit my country.'' Well I'd have to say you sure didn't MR. Phipps. And he tells the story very honorably as well. The Korean ''police action'' was some unique and hard fighting in the records of our armed forces. The human wave charges and the weather just a couple of things that stand out. Very worthwhile viewing thank you

[@MrArtmundus]

It takes some balls to spend 33 months in North Korean POW and make it through. I salute you sir and I'm not even an American!

[@fightingtosurvive6527]

Korean, not Corean.

[@MrArtmundus]

@@fightingtosurvive6527 I just changed it! Sorry for my mistake. The only excuse I have, is because in Spanish it's with "C". That's why I mixed it up.

[@davidquadagno8230]

God bless you.

[@RealBelisariusCawl]

Any history buff hears “boxcars” and knows it’s about to get bad.

[@antz6130]

Thank you sir

[@ottoso7044]

It’s sad ppl never talk about Korean War smh then ofc Vietnam vets were mistreated e being SENT to fight smfh bless all our troops 🇺🇸

[@jayo3074]

No one cares about the Korean war. The Vietnam war is more important

[@jayo3074]

@Captain Beano pointless war

[@ottoso7044]

@@jayo3074 why we went to Korea ?

[@ottoso7044]

@@jayo3074 but didn’t ppl say Vietnam was pointless war too ? The politicians lost that war not our troops

[@jayo3074]

@@ottoso7044 they were both pointless and we lost both wars lol

[@wyattsdad8561]

They would do this again to our soldiers.

[@sunnybeach4837]

God bless you sir

[@ProdigalSunTzu]

Thank you all for getting these stories out there. My uncle was a Tiger survivor from the Korean war. Called that because the North Korean in charge of them was ferocious and nicknamed Tiger. Camp conditions were akin to gulags or concentration camps. Abuse, starvation and disease. He said when the Chinese took control of the camp things got better but they added brainwashing stuff. Unfortunatley I never hear many people discuss this war. But it and its impacts were real. My uncle survived a death march followed by 3 years in camp came home and slowly drank himself to an early grave because of it all.

[@亦先汪]

Although I don't like the Chinese Communist Party, I have to say that the Chinese Communist Party is much more civilized than the Japanese and Nazi Germany, and Taiwan's Kuomintang.

[@justinsane7832]

next video can you crank up the volume a bit more? i love these stories, but sometimes hard to hear :/

[@entertainme7523]

Thank you, Mr. Sane

[@williampatience9524]

Thank you! You and everyone who got captured have my utmost respect. You truly went to hell and back. I was stationed at Camp Stanley and I remember that the winter's there were brutal. I'm sure it took something out of you.

[@jonm2416]

I'm honestly shocked that the Chinese didn't just kill them. These stories always amaze you one way or the other.

[@longshotny]

Well they kept a bunch of them past, ever after the conclusion 😮! Awful!!

[@亦先汪]

Although I don't like the Chinese Communist Party, I have to say that the Chinese Communist Party is much more civilized than the Japanese and Nazi Germany, and Taiwan's Kuomintang.

[@americanlocation2011]

Thank you Cecil for all you sacrificed on our behalf, you will ALWAYS be a hero in my book. Anyone who says a man captured in war isn't a hero is a moral coward.

[@tommychew6544]

I like history and I think this might be the first person Korean War POW telling I have ever heard. After WWII I wonder how many Americans actually allowed themselves to be captured? I'm glad to have heard it for sure! I was a Marine in the 80's and knowing what I knew of history I would have fought to the death surrounded or not, I guess that's why we were known as Devil Dogs back during WWI. If these people weren't brutal to begin with, they wouldn't be doing what they are doing. He must have had an angel looking out for him to have survived the way he did. The chance of death from surrendering was high I don't think I could have taken it. I would like to shake his hand but, I couldn't have done it. The paradoxes of life can really get strange can't they. It all depends on your outlook when you are seeing them happen for yourself and where you are at that point in your life.

[@mikelubin148]

You don't know what you would have done you served in peace time and to say you don't know if you would shake his hand shows your character.

[@dna7500]

Wow!

[@Leonbergerss]

Thank you for my freedom, hero 🇺🇸

[@joshlovern756]

Hero

[@shyxzo2006]

I’m from iowa wanting to join the army soon it’s awesome to know a hero Iike this has come from the same place as me given me more motivation can’t wait to enlist

[@slee5714]

I am truly sorry you had to endure such unbearable hardships. I am sorry that so many had to suffer and die. Thanks for fighting for my native country .

[@dondamon4669]

So your a native American?

[@Earth11111]

My grandpa was in this war he told Me some wild stories

[@hawkeyeten2450]

Make sure you get the stories written down if possible.

[@Earth11111]

@@hawkeyeten2450 he’s passed I wish I could now

[@hawkeyeten2450]

@@Earth11111 If you remember them at all, get them jotted down. It's better than nothing.

[@Earth11111]

@@hawkeyeten2450 oh I do remember them

[@Earth11111]

@@hawkeyeten2450 I really wanna gov he close the records they got the government and see where all they got him documented being at camps and the battles he was in i know they got records of it they got to have

[@bigleaguejew3101]

Iowa proud 🇺🇸🌽

[@HEAVYMETALJSTYLES]

In a time where my faith in Mankind is wained, faith in our current government is also, The words of our Veterans about their hardships and grit, I do find the strength to carry on and I discovered hope again. Salute to you Sir and to all our Veterans.

[@boligard]

I remember when I worked at Walmart a few years a Korean war vet came in and was sitting on the bench next to me and without me asking he just started talking about the war which made me excited because I always want to talk to ww2/Korean/Vietnam vets but I'm always to shy to ask them. Unfortunately I got yelled at to get back to work because I was way past my break time God bless our veterans.

[@mickmacy6161]

So proud of you, Sir! Thank you for serving. You were on the front lines of Freedom. Your sacrifice is noted in Heaven.

[@joelpierce3940]

I had a late friend, who was a very young Marine and was a POW. The Chinese broke a toe a day, with Vicegrips, trying to get information from him, of which he knew nothing. He was swapped in a prisoner exchange and was told to crawl the quarter mile to the US lines or be shot. He crawled.

[@LoneElk]

thats crazy, is there any coverage on his story?

[@svyalinirnhut890]

Thank you for the great story. I am Chinese myself, both of my grandfathers served on the other side of this war, one was a mechanic, the other was an officer directing propaganda efforts, although he still got wounded in an air raid (He just passed away 2 years prior at the age of 99). Earlier in the war, many of the Chinese soldiers and officers who got sent to Korean frontline were ex-KMT defectors, or previously served as auxiliary troops under the Japanese, North Korean army also used extensive ex-Japanese auxiliary troops, so they were all experienced and quite brutal. So sorry about the summary executions and the terrible POW treatment. For the millet porridge provided though, Chinese soldiers weren't doing any better, there was a saying in China that the army was all about "millet and rifle", that's what everyone ate. Most of those guys later had it pretty bad during the Cultural Revolution (not for this particular reason but karma I guess).

[@wholawulahome]

你怎麼不談談我們志願軍被俘虜的人是怎麼被殘酷對待的？karma 你大爺，還badtreatment，活了33個月就被槍托砸了幾下算個屁。我們志願軍很多時候吃的都沒有，各種藥品都供給俘虜傷員，為此很多志願軍還抱怨，你道歉，你算什麼東西？新中國本來不想大規模出兵，結果還一直打到邊境，不停轟炸，這樣搞幾十年，我們還發不發展了？想過為什麼烏克蘭加入北約，把核武器放門口，俄羅斯要去打呢？當然俄羅斯侵略是不正當的，但是站在他們角度又是可以理解的。總之，別人沒道歉，你直接跪了，讓人覺得惡心。

[@svyalinirnhut890]

@@wholawulahome 你一定要用繁体字，是不是当年志愿军俘虏叛逃台湾做反共义士的后代啊🤣看得懂我说什么吗，就跟这打稻草人？志愿军基层国民党和伪满投诚部队素质就是差啊，哪怕原本的东北野战军，除了黑龙江那边，其余也是鱼龙混杂，东北人最清楚，无脑吹就和文盲一样。我原本评论有反对打朝鲜战争吗？只是就事论事而已，首先志愿军自己就喝小米粥，战俘也喝小米粥，这根本没有问题。然而如果不是中共高层介入，凭你基层那帮文革被清算的大头兵搞，结果就是学朝鲜人民军那样复刻二战日军。我原本评论也提到，战俘待遇差主要是因为中国贫穷，蛋白质这种东西都是稀有物，你自己不看还来说我🤣 另外你最后一段话“武器放门口”的逻辑，也能拿来给美国搞门罗主义干涉中南美洲辩护，还能拿来支持美国入侵古巴，甚至还能拿来支持以色列轰炸叙利亚，伊朗和黎巴嫩，说白了就是给家门口的地区霸权思想洗地。肯尼迪要是像你这样想，古巴导弹危机的时候全人类早就完犊子了🤣

[@afreightdogslife]

"I am proud to have served my country, and I am proud that while I was in custody, I didn't do anything to discredit my country." Well said, my fellow veteran, well said. You are a man of honor, I salute you.

[@Scanlon1981]

Would love to heard this man's opinion on the current state of out nation.

[@entertainme7523]

you don't need someone else's opinion, just open your eyes 😂

[@princessbabibear4794]

It would be an honor to hear his opinion. Would likely have insight and advice we desperately need to consider and spread like wildfire.

[@FFEMTB08]

My grandfather fought in Korea.. he never talked about it.

[@bch5513]

Raising cane to point got a small jail stint. Sounds like you would have fit right in with the marines. At least back then for sure.

[@susanbrown5004]

Wow what a story🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@FindersKeepers88]

Atta boy

[@jacksonjohnson4182]

November of 51 through August of 53 is 22 months. Did he go back and get captured again?

[@eancurtis9333]

Wow

[@aliensocks8789]

My mother was a caregiver for a pow Korean war . He was there for 5 years..

[@bryantadkins8720]

What part of Iowa was he from?

[@entertainme7523]

the part where they grow corn

[@fightingtosurvive6527]

@@entertainme7523 Why are you trolling other people's posts? Go find a video that's more equivalent with your limited intellect.

[@jacksonjohnson4182]

Fort Dodge, they put it in the description

[@helioselexandros]

God bless america

[@redtomcat1725]

Thank you for your service. A hard service was yours.