Show notes
In this episode of Ask A Vet, we sit down with Korean War Navy Veteran John Llewellyn, who shares what it was really like serving aboard a destroyer, or what sailors called a “tin can.”From joining the Navy at 18 on a whim… to working deep in the engine room under extreme heat… to surviving typhoons in the Pacific… John gives a raw, honest account of life at sea during the Korean War.He talks about the moments that shaped him: watching combat from offshore, facing fear and opportunity, turning down life-changing decisions, and ultimately finding purpose after service. This is a story about growth, perspective, and what service truly gives back.If you want to understand what the Korean War was like from someone who lived it, not from a textbook, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.🇺🇸 Thank you to all Veterans for your service.Chapters: 02:15 – Growing up in Utah & Joining the Navy05:30 – Boot Camp Experience (San Diego)08:00 – Machinist Mate School & First Assignment10:00 – Getting Assigned to the USS Stembel (“Tin Can”)12:30 – Life Aboard a Destroyer15:00 – Journey to the Pacific & First Deployment18:30 – Escorting Aircraft Carriers (Task Force 77)21:00 – Close Call: Carrier Plane Crash23:30 – Patrolling North Korea & Combat Conditions26:00 – Volunteering for Shore Duty (and Regret)28:30 – The Day the War Ended40:00 – Opportunities in the Navy (and Turning Them Down)44:00 – Life in the Engine Room & Dangerous Conditions48:00 – Typhoons at Sea + Injuries, Close Calls & Deaths on Board56:00 – Returning Home & Transition to Civilian Life59:00 – Career in Law Enforcement01:02:00 – Final Reflections
