VOLPONE

Bio Image

Personal Details

  • Last Name: VOLPONE
  • First Name Middle Initial: JAMES
  • Nick Name:
  • Street:  1939 WINTERWOOD BLVD
  • Country &State:
  • City: LAS VEGAS, NV
  • State: 
  • Postal Code: 89142 - 1746
  • Phone: 702 431-5025
  • E-Mail:  POW Volpone@AOL.COM
  • Spouse: DOLORES A.
  • Age when entered service:
  • Age first entered:
  • War or Conflict: KOREAN WAR
  • Theater of operations:
  • Year:
  • Branch of Service/s: ARMY
  • Years Served:
  • Date of Discharge / Retirement (circle):
  • Highest Rank: new_value
  • Military MOS (Job Descriptions): 948 -1950 Muscian/ 1950-1953 Rifleman
  • What military medals received: UNITED NATIONS MEDAL ,KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL ,GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL ,NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL AND PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL 50th Anniversary Korean Medal
Military Bio:

Mr. Volpone served in the U.S. Army Band from Feb.12th 1948 to Feb. 12th 1950, and was discharged and later drafted into the Army in November after the Korean War started, he was sent to Korea and served with the 38th Inf. 2nd. Division as a rifleman. James Volpone was captured by the Chinese on Feb. 12th 1951 exactly one year from his discharge from the Army. He spent 30 months as a POW in Korea,(10 months as a M.I.A.). He was captured in the vicinity of Saemal, South Korea with another G.I. from the Tank Corp. and a South Korean soldier was sent to the Bean Camp and then on to a forced march where he escaped with two other Americans,a Sgt' Kenneth Heitkemp and another American Red Morgan. they were later recaptured and turned over to the North Koreans ,it was at this time they were interogated by the Russians ,it was said that the Russians did not participate in that war but they did ,He seen them at anti-aircfaft guns and later now it's been said that they flew the Migs that had battles with our pilots and I would like to mention a Russian gave him a towel and a bar of soap and another gave them all a can of pork and some rice. They were sent to the Mining Camp. The conditions in both camps were deplorable; there was very little food and water. Many Americans died at both camps from dysentery, Berri-berri, Starvation, cold injuries, worms, and maggots ,and lung problems with no medical attention . Mr. Volpone was later sent North which turned out to be a Death March, They finally reached the Yalu River with his two good buddies who he knew only as Woody and Speedie who carried him most of the way as he had contacted frozen feet ,Berri- Berri , acute dysentary and pneumonia. They were later separated and he was sent to Camp 1 and they were sent to Camp 5 as the Chinese separated the blacks from the rest of them. Mr. Volpone was finally released on Aug. 21st 1953 at Pamunjon (Freedom City) and later Discharged at Valley Forge Army Hospital, Pa. Where they had learned that he came home with tuberculosis . He went home and was later married to his wife Dolores of 45 years and they now have 4 sons Michael, James Jr. Gregory & Franco & 5 grandchildren. James went to work as a Illustrator at Hughes Missile & Radar Systems in Ca. and moved to Las Vegas. He also worked as a musician playing the Night club circiut around Orange Co.area in California .He now spends his time working in his yard ,searching the internet with his computer along as creating graphics , also drawing and writing about his POW expierences in Korea . He is a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars , Disabled American Veterans , The American Legion , American Prisoner of War , 2nd. Division Association,Inc. Korean War Veterans Alliance Inc., Korean War Veterans Association Inc. , Ex-POW Asscociation Inc.,Korean War Branch ------------------------------------------------------------ Welcome to my Home Page-POW's - KOREA 1950-1953 http://hometown.aol.com/powvolpone/myhomepage/index.html http://members.xoom.com/JamesVolpone http://hometown.aol.com/powvolpone/KoreanWar--Americanex-PrisonerofWar1950-1953.html http://hometown.aol.com/powvolpone/KoreanexPrisonerofWarScrapbook1950-1953.html  

My Message to Future Generations: God Bless this great country of ours.

Post Military Occupation

  • Age when captured: 21
  • Date of Captured: 02/12/51
  • Place captured: SAEMAL , SOUTH KOREA
  • Camp/s held: BEAN CAMP MINING CAMP CAMP 1 -CHANGSONG , NORTH KOREA,----- (YALU RIVER)
  • Date Released: 08/21/53
  • Prisoner-of-war status: Liberated
  • Date of DEATH if deceased: 
  • AGE at death:
  • Died In Combat:
  • Died from complications of combat wounds:
  • Describe below Survivors Include: