Uncle Ed was the third son of my grandfather Martin J. Conlon, with his second wife, Ella Fox, who was killed in a car accident.

My uncle Ed (Martin E. Conlon) was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He corresponded with my folks, who saved his letters, which I have transcrbed, annotated, and published with permission from the estate of his widow Dottie. The originals will be donated to the War Letters Project at Chapman University. 

Korean War

Ed was lucky not to see any action, as he arrived in Korea shortly before the armistice, but the letters make interesting reading as his unit moved around Korea. I have added annotations about some the key places, events, and people to whom he refers.

• Fort Dix, New Jersey – December 25, 1952
• Aboard the U.S.S. Mann – May 22, 1953
• Camp Fuji, Japan – June 7, 1953
• Camp Fuji, Japan – June 22, 1953
• Pusan, Korea – July 5, 1953
• Yong Dong Po, Korea – July 31, 1953
• Yong Dong Po, Korea – August 24, 1953
• Munsan Ni, Korea – September 17, 1953
• Pusan, Korea – October 21, 1953
• Pusan, Korea – November 11, 1953
• Pusan, Korea – December 29, 1953
• Inchon, Korea – January 10, 1954
• Inchon, Korea – January 19, 1954
• Inchon, Korea – February 20, 1954
• Koje Island, Korea – March 11, 1954
• Yangu Valley, Korea – April 18, 1954
• Yang gu Valley, Korea – June 30, 1954
• Korea – July 23, 1954
• Korea – September 9, 1954
• Korea – September 25, 1954
• Korea – October 5, 1954

Here are some photos that Ed sent home.