Born: December 22, 1923
War: Korean War
Rank: Lieutenant (J.G.), U.S. Navy
Location of Action: North Korea
Date of Action: July 3, 1951
Official Medal of Honor Citation: 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.
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, Lt. (J.G.) 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, Lt. (J.G.) 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, Lt. (J.G.) 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 U.S. Naval Service.
JOHN KELVIN KOELSCH
