To be the supreme allied commander and it was an accident of timing with this decision. So i was the accidental admiral. Host that the navy was an accident as well as a career . Somewhat. Going way back i grew up in the marine corps family. My father was the fighting in korea and vietnam and i grew up in that environment and i went to Quantico High School and then went on to the Naval Academy thinking i would be a marine corps officer. After my first year the navy sends everybody out on a cruise and you go out on a ship beautiful cruiser on san diego it was late in the day the sun was setting and and i just wanted to be a sailor at that point so i told my dad and my mom and they were hoping it would be a marine that they got over it years later when i got my first star is that i think that came out okay. Host you almost left the nav navy . I did i graduated from annapolis and went to see for five years three on a destroyer in san diego and then to florida where i come from you today my
Accidental admiral . Guest what a great question at a certain level all of our lives, you can choose to steer a particular course but the sea will come, the wind will come and you will go in a different direction. It comes from a period in my career when i was a four star admiral just finishing up at us Southern Command in charge of all military activities south of the United States and i was very hopeful in going to the pacific as commander of us Pacific Command which is a senior position, robert gates, called me up and said forget about the specific we are going to send you to nato so i became the first and thus far the only admiral, supreme allied commander in nato and it was an accident that did that. From the nato perspective i was be accidental admiral who became the supreme allied commander. Host the navy was an accident as well. Guest somewhat. I grew up in a marine corps family. My father fought in korea and vietnam. I grew up in that environment and went to Quantico High Scho
We talks about his experience as one of the few African American soldiers in his company while serving as a machine gunner in the u. S. Marines. The interview project was underwritten by south koreas ministry of patriots and veterans affairs. James my name is james sharp. When i was in korea i was marine pfg. And im very pleased to be doing this interview with you, on may 29, 2014. That is a long time after the end of the war. So you will have to forgive any memory lapses i may encounter. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much again. Would you please share your birthday and birthplace. James my birthday is may 28, 1933, and that was in new york city. I was born in York Hospital in new york city. Yesterday was your birthday. How was it . James it was wonderful. My daughter was here. One of my grandchildren was here. He came early, and we went out to play golf, which was my first time playing golf, and over three years, because of the entry to my leg. Oh. James the cancer in my leg. It was
Birthday and birthplace . My birthday is may 28, 1933, and that was in new york city. Yesterday was your birthday. How was it . My daughter was here, my grandchildren were here. It was my first time playing golf in over three years because of the injury to my leg, the cancer in the leg so it was a very, very wonderful birthday to spend with them. Again, happy birthday. Thank you. Please tell me about your family background, the school you went through. It must be in new york city, right . In new york city, yes. I went to a school now called the Fashion Institute of technology what do you mean . You were in fashion . I tried but i never worked at it at all. I cant sew a button on now, but yes. And then i went into the marine corp when i was 19 years old. The war in korea was going on and it was a calling. I had always wanted to be in the military. I had cousins and uncles and a godfather that served in the military during world war i and world war ii. And so korea was my opportunity to
Encounter. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much, again. And would you please share your birthday and birth place . My birthday is may 28th, 1933, and that was in new york city. I was born in New York Hospital in new york city. Yesterday was your birthday. Yes, it was. How was it . Oh, it was wonderful. My daughter was here. One of my grandchildren was here. In fact, he came early and we went out to play golf which was my first time playing golf in over three years because of the injury to my leg. Oh. The cancer in the leg. So, it was a very, very wonderful birthday to spend with them. Again, happy birthday. Thank you. Please, tell me about your family background, the school you went to. It must be in new york city, right . In new york city, yes. I went to a school thats now called Fashion Institute of technology, and then i went on to what do you mean . You were in Fashion Institute . I tried, but i never worked at it at all. I cant sew a button on now. But, yes. And then i went into th