95-year-old Cloice Dotson, a resident in Independent Living at Traditions at North Willow, served his country as an Army Corporal during the Korean War.
Cloice was drafted in July 1951 while attending Lincoln University in Missouri and working for US Steel. He attended basic training at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas.
Cloice’s journey began at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, where he underwent basic training. From there, he traveled to Seattle, Washington, to board a ship destined for Japan and, eventually, Korea. The trip took 14 long days, and he arrived in the bitter cold of November. It was a harsh welcome to his assignment with the 937th Field Artillery Battalion, known as the “Big Guns” of the 8th Army.
“It was cold in Korea,” Cloice recalled. He spent two winters there, where temperatures could drop as low as -24 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cloice worked with the 155mm self-propelled artillery guns mounted on C40 tanks. He and his fellow soldiers launched massive 96-pound projectiles across distances of up to 24 miles. Despite their range, they often held back to ensure more precise targeting at 18 miles. It was hard work. “It required two men to load shells into the breach,” Cloice remembered.
War brought with it fear, courage, and camaraderie. His duties included driving troops around, often on weekend trips to Seoul with a “deuce-and-a-quarter” truck packed with soldiers looking to escape the front for a brief respite. But even away from the direct battle lines, danger was never far off. One evening, while stationed alone on guard duty on a small hill, he noticed movement in the darkness. Though it seemed unusually quiet, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Raising his carbine, he fired into the darkness. “I was reprimanded in front of other troops in battery, Cloice said. “I had to explain my side – all by myself.” Some weeks later, someone was killed in the same spot by a sniper. “So snipers were there after all.”
Cloice was fortunate to not suffer injuries during combat, however, he suffered permanent hearing loss in his right ear.
After serving 13 months in Korea, he was discharged at Camp Atterbury in Indiana and returned home, profoundly changed by the experience. At 22, he resumed civilian life, finishing college while working for USPS. Cloice earned a teaching license and taught for the next 30 years.
The trauma of his time in Korea left its mark, and he found his own form of therapy in solitude, often sitting on a quiet hillside near an old barn, reflecting on his experiences. He had trouble being around large crowds, but that became easier as he starting attending ballgames.
Today, he proudly wears his veterans’ gear on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. “I wear my cap when I go shopping and people thank me for my service,” Cloice said proudly.
The Korean War is a distant memory for many, but Cloice reflects on it with mixed emotions—sorrow and pride, and an enduring disbelief that tensions still simmer on the Korean peninsula. Despite his hardships, he has no regrets about his service. Now, in his 50th year of marriage, with three children and six grandchildren, he feels his legacy is woven not only through his family but through the story of his service. He was offered the opportunity to visit Seoul, Korea, but declined. He did go on the Honor Flight to DC in 2017.
Today, as he greets those who thank him and share his experiences, he does so with quiet pride, grateful for a life shaped by resilience, duty, and love.
Thank you for your service Cloice!
