Lt. Richard Underwood

Biography

Lt. Richard Underwood was a U.S. Army officer who served during the Korean War and had a unique background shaped by his early life in Korea. Born to American missionary parents, he spent most of his youth in Korea, where he learned the Korean language as a child. His fluency made him a rare asset during World War II, leading to his immediate assignment to the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), the wartime precursor to the CIA, upon graduating high school. He was trained in unconventional warfare and served as a liaison with Soviet officers in North Korea in 1945, shortly after Japan’s surrender. During the Korean War, he returned to active duty as a second lieutenant, despite lacking formal military training. He witnessed horrific atrocities, including the execution of South Koreans by North Korean forces, and served as an interpreter and security officer. His memoir, What A Fun Life!, reflects his resilience and Christian faith, emphasizing forgiveness without forgetting. He later became a teacher and lived in Champaign, Illinois, near his daughter at the University of Illinois.