NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Frank Scalise served his country in the Army in the Korean War as a sergeant from 1950 to 1952. 

 

At 99 years of age, he has a fantastic memory, is quick-witted, humorous and possesses a powerful handshake. 

 

The North Adams native said he was initially drafted for World War II but was classified 4-F, unfit for service, because of two hernias. He was inducted in late 1950 at age 25, among the first group of draftees from the Berkshires, and sent to basic training at Fort Devens. 

 

"We had to wait two to three weeks as we couldn't do anything right away," he said. "They made me a fireman and I trained with the Tennessee National Guard. One night in the barracks, a bunch of southern guys were getting a bit rowdy and were saying, 'we got a Yankee in here and we're going to take care of him.'

 

"I told them, I got along with everyone and didn't want any trouble. They left me alone and we all got along after that." 

 

Scalise's first assignment would be at Fort Ord in California. 

 

"Didn't do any training there. From there I was sent to Pusan in [South] Korea and my job was 60

millimeter mortars," he said. "We first trained with a sergeant from Tampa, Fla. I set up my mortar equipment in about 20 seconds — the sergeant gave me a cigar as a reward." 

 

He arrived in Korea as part of the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Division, during heavy fighting as allied troops fought to push back the Korean People's Army from the peninnsula's southern tip. One report in the North Adams Transcript described how he and his regiment advanced over mountainous terrain in three days to capture a city and more than 200 prisoners. 

 

"We were assigned to a heavy combat area, they called it 'Old Baldy,'" Scalise said. "There was vicious fighting over the course of 10 months ... we took it from the Chinese and got a lot of prisoners.

 

"We were in such heavy, continuous combat — I never saw a car or heard a woman's voice."

 

Was he ever afraid? "Oh yeah. We had an enemy artillery shell come in and buried me and a couple of other guys up to our waist with dirt. Thankfully, we were able to dig ourselves out," he said. "They would rotate us from heavy combat to the back of the line. Gave us clean clothes, a shower and whiskey."

 

I asked him how the whisky tasted: "By God! Two of the men in my squad helped me finish it," he  laughed.

 

How were the holidays? "We had no holidays. We were either fighting or on missions." 

 

Sgt. Scalise shared this story. "We got shipped back to Fort Ord from Korea. We had two other guys with me. A taxi driver stopped and asked us if we wanted to go to San Francisco, said he'd take us for $12 and would wait for us at each stop and have us back to the fort by 5 a.m. We went and had a heck of a time," he said. "The taxi driver kept his word and had us back by 5 a.m. I was happy to be out of Korea."

 

His feeling on coming back home? "Had some bad memories, guys that got killed, Jimmy Salazar, always laughing. He was always on point on missions and patrols and killed by an enemy hand grenade," he remembered. "Coming home was wonderful though. I got on a ship in San Fran with over 3,000 other guys. It took 15 days for us to return home. The last leg we took a train."

 

Thoughts on service? "Never thought too much in the beginning but realize how much of an absolute honor it was."

 

His extreme courage and bravery are reflected in his three bronze stars, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge and several others. He was twice promoted on the battlefield.

 

Sgt. Frank Scalise, thank you for your service to our great country.