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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John Kelvin Koelsch, USN (1923-1951)
John Kelvin Koelsch was born on 22 December 1923 in London,
England. He joined the Naval Reserve as an Aviation Cadet in September
1942 and was commissioned as an Ensign in October 1944 after completing
flight training. During the next few years, he served in Composite
Squadron 15 and in two torpedo squadrons. In August 1950, Lt(jg)
Koelsch joined Helicopter Squadron One (HU-1) and was Officer
in Charge of the helicopter detachment of USS Princeton
(CV-37) during her 1950-51 Korean
War deployment. In June 1951, he moved to Helicopter Squadron
Two (HU-2), based at Wonsan, North Korea, for pilot rescue duty.
On 3 July 1951, while attempting to rescue an injured flyer,
his helicopter was hit by enemy gunfire and crashed. Koelsch,
his crewman and the rescued pilot survived the crash and hid from
the surrounding enemy for nine days before they were captured.
As a prisoner of war, Lt(jg) Koelsch exhibited great bravery and
inspired his companions with his "fortitude and consideration
for others". He died of malnutrition and dysentery while
a captive on 16 October 1951. In August 1955, Lieutenant (Junior
Grade) John Kelvin Koelsch was posthumously awarded the Medal
of Honor for his Korean War heroism.
USS Koelsch (DE-1049, later FF-1049) was named in honor
of Lt(jg) Koelsch.
This page features our only view of John Kelvin Koelsch.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 48364
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John Kelvin Koelsch, USN
Portrait photograph, taken circa 1950.
LtJG Koelsch was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for
heroism as a rescue helicopter pilot and as a prisoner of war
in 1951, during the Korean War.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 86KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
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Medal of Honor citation of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John
Kelvin Koelsch (as printed in the 1964 Congressional publication
"Medal of Honor Recipients --1863-1963", page 764):
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk
of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with
a Navy helicopter rescue unit in North Korea on 3 July 1951.
Although darkness was rapidly approaching when information was
received that a Marine aviator had been shot down and was trapped
by the enemy in mountainous terrain deep in hostile territory,
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Koelsch voluntarily flew a helicopter
to the reported position of the downed airman in an attempt to
effect a rescue. With an almost solid overcast concealing everything
below the mountain peaks, he descended in his unarmed and vulnerable
aircraft without the accompanying fighter escort to an extremely
low altitude beneath the cloud level and began a systematic search.
Despite the increasingly intense enemy fire, which struck his
helicopter on one occasion, he persisted in his mission until
he succeeded in locating the downed pilot, who was suffering
from serious burns on the arms and legs. While the victim was
being hoisted into the aircraft, it was struck again by an accurate
burst of hostile fire and crashed on the side of the mountain.
Quickly extricating his crewmen and the aviator from the wreckage,
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Koelsch led them from the vicinity
in an effort to escape from hostile troops, evading the enemy
forces for 9 days and rendering such medical attention as possible
to his severely burned companion until all were captured. Up
to the time of his death while still a captive of the enemy,
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Koelsch steadfastly refused to aid
his captors in any manner and served to inspire his fellow prisoners
by his fortitude and consideration for others. His great personal
valor and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout sustain
and enhance the finest traditions of the United States naval
service."
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1 September 2000