What They Don’t Tell You About Serving on a Navy Destroyer During the Korean War

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 Navy

05:30 – Boot Camp Experience (San Diego)

08:00 – Machinist Mate School & First Assignment

10:00 – Getting Assigned to the USS Stembel (“Tin Can”)

12:30 – Life Aboard a Destroyer

15:00 – Journey to the Pacific & First Deployment

18:30 – Escorting Aircraft Carriers (Task Force 77)

21:00 – Close Call: Carrier Plane Crash

23:30 – Patrolling North Korea & Combat Conditions

26:00 – Volunteering for Shore Duty (and Regret)

28:30 – The Day the War Ended

40:00 – Opportunities in the Navy (and Turning Them Down)

44:00 – Life in the Engine Room & Dangerous Conditions

48:00 – Typhoons at Sea + Injuries, Close Calls & Deaths on Board

56:00 – Returning Home & Transition to Civilian Life

59:00 – Career in Law Enforcement

01:02:00 – Final Reflections