John H. Kallinen
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Photo 1: Mr. Kallinen aboard ship to Guam, August 1949. "Sang in choir formed on ship." Photo 2: K.P. Duty at Camp Rucker, Alabama, fall 1950. Photo 3: Mr. Kallinen at his 80th birthday party.
John H. Kallinen served in the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Army from January 20, 1949, until November 18, 1954.
He received basic training at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, then trained with the 101st Airborne. He was trained in small arms repair at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. He went to Camp Stoneman, California, and from there to Guam, where he spent four months, from September 1949 until January 1950.
When the Korean War began, Mr. Kallinen was called up for active duty. He was at Camp Rucker, Alabama, from September 1950 until October 1951. He was discharged in November 1954.
Mr. Kallinen was born in 1925 in Iron Mountain, Michigan, the son of Joan and Mayme (Saari) Kallinen.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
I was drafted into service January 1949 and shipped to Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, for basic training (8 weeks) in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne. From there they transferred me to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, for Small Arms Repair Training. Then shipped to Camp Stoneman, California, and shipped to Guam for over 4 months—September ’49 to January ’50. Came home and was recalled for active duty when Korean War broke out, and spent 13 months in Camp Rucker—now Fort Rucker—Alabama, from September 1950 to October 1951. Came home again and discharged in November 1954.
