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==Biography==
John Kelvin Koelsch joined the [[United States Navy Reserve|U.S. Naval Reserve]] as an [[
Late in the afternoon of July 3, 1951, Koelsch responded to a distress call from a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] aviator, Capt. James V. Wilkins, whose [[F4U Corsair|Corsair]] had been hit by enemy fire during an armed reconnaissance mission about 35 miles southwest of Wonsan. Capt. Wilkins parachuted from his burning plane at low altitude; and survived despite being severely burned about the legs. Despite approaching darkness, worsening weather, and enemy ground fire, Lt. Koelsch located the downed aviator in the [[Anbyon Valley]] and began his pickup. Thick fog prevented the air cover from protecting the unarmed [[Sikorsky H-5|HO3S]] helicopter, and intense enemy fire downed the craft as the Lieutenant's crewman, George M. Neal, AM3, hoisted the injured pilot toward the helicopter. All three men survived the crash; and, after hiding in the mountains from enemy patrols for 3 days, they began a slow march to the coast. After 6 more days, they reached a coastal village where they were captured the following day while hiding in a hut. During his captivity, though beaten and abused, Koelsch refused to aid his captors or submit to interrogation. His fortitude and personal bravery inspired his fellow prisoners. John Koelsch died of [[malnutrition]] and [[dysentery]] on October 16, 1951, while a [[prisoner of war]]. On August 3, 1955, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John Kelvin Koelsch was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea.<ref name="">{{Cite web
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|title = Chopper Pilot
|work =
|date = August 15,
|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,807473,00.html
|accessdate = 2006-10-14}}
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