John Rufus Bandy, a 95-year-old Korean War veteran, served the United States Air Force from January 4, 1951, to December 8, 1954. Some of his most fond memories of service come from the camaraderie he shared with his fellow White County soldiers while in training and deployment. While he now lives away in Gallatin, he still considers Sparta his home away from home.
Born in Cherry Creek in 1930, Bandy graduated from White County High School in 1950 and quickly went into service shortly after. Of the many folks he met during his service, he was notably amazed at just how many White County residents he met with. In addition, he had a first cousin that also served in the Air Force that he would regularly see during his stay in California. Of all his time in service, he looks back on those the most fondly.
“When I was in California, four other men from White County came through there and I saw them,” Bandy says. “When I was in Korea, Clifford Carroll Phifer from Sparta was in the Navy, and on the ship in Tucson. I went to see him on Thanksgiving Day of 1951.”
Bandy also discussed how much of the world he saw while in those early days of service. First starting in Wyoming, he then was moved over to California. He even got to visit what was at the time French Morocco, now just Morocco.
Bandy has a love and respect for his fellow veterans. “I’m one that believes that anyone who serves with honor should be treated honorably,” Bandy says, and he continues to express that it was a time he looks back on fondly despite the hardships. “Well, I started to enjoy the time in there. I didn’t think much of the food or medical attention, so other than that, I really enjoyed it.”
For his service, Bandy was awarded the Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal, Bronze Star Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
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