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Line 23: ==Biography== John Kelvin Koelsch joined the [[United States Navy Reserve\|U.S. Naval Reserve]] as an [[~~Moterman~~Aviation Cadet]] on September 14, 1942 and was commissioned as an [[Ensign (rank)\|Ensign]] on October 23, 1944 after completing flight training. During the next few years, he served at Naval Air Stations at [[Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport\|Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], and [[Naval Station Norfolk\|Norfolk, Virginia]], and subsequently flew with Composite Squadron 15 and Torpedo Squadrons 97 and 18. He became an accomplished [[torpedo bomber]] pilot, and was promoted to [[Lieutenant, Junior Grade\|Lieutenant (Junior Grade)]] on August 1, 1946. After the outbreak of the [[Korean War]], he joined Helicopter Squadron 1 (HU-1) at [[Miramar, San Diego, California\|Miramar, California]], in August 1950. As Officer in Charge of a helicopter detachment, he joined {{USS\|Princeton\|CV-37}} in October for pilot rescue duty off the eastern coast of Korea. He served in ''Princeton'' until June 1951 when he joined Helicopter Squadron 2 (HU-2) for pilot rescue duty out of [[Wonsan]], Korea, then under naval blockade. He provided lifeguard duty for pilots who were downed either in coastal waters or over enemy-held territory. On June 22, he rescued a Naval aviator from the waters of Wonsan Harbor, southeast of Yo Do Island. 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 Line 92: \|title = Chopper Pilot \|work = \|date = August 15, ~~1956~~1955 \|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,807473,00.html \|accessdate = 2006-10-14}}

John Kelvin Koelsch: Difference between revisions