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John Kelvin Koelsch was born in London, England on 22 December 1923. He graduated from Princeton University in 1942 and enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Naval Reserve on 14 September of that year. Following flight training, he was commissioned an ensign in the Naval Reserve on 23 October 1944. He served at Naval Air Stations at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Norfolk, Virginia, and subsequently flew with Composite Squadron 15 and Torpedo Squadrons 97 and 18, serving as the latter's assistant administrative officer. He was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) 1 August 1946 and transferred to the U.S. Navy two months later on 11 October. He returned to Princeton for instruction under the College Training Program in May 1948 followed by an assignment in February 1949 with the Naval Aircraft Torpedo Unit, Quonset Point, Rhode Island.
After the outbreak of Communist aggression in Korea, he joined Helicopter Squadron (HU) 1 at Miramar, California, in August 1950. As Officer in Charge of HU-1, Detachment 8, he joined carrier Princeton (CV-37) in October for duty off the east coast of Korea. He served on board Princeton until June 1951 when he was transferred to pilot rescue duty out of Wonsan, Korea, then under naval blockade. On 22 June, Koelsch and ADAN George M. Neal, his crewman, rescued Ens. Marvin D. Nelson, Jr., of Composite Squadron 3 from the waters of Wonsan Harbor, southeast of Yo-Do Island, after Nelson had bailed out of his crippled Vought F4U Corsair. Late on the afternoon of 3 July 1951, Koelsch and then-AD3 Neal volunteered to fly deep into North Korea to rescue Capt. James V. Wilkins, USMC, who had bailed out of his burning Corsair after it had been hit by enemy fire during an armed reconnaissance mission about thirty-five miles southwest of Wonsan. Despite approaching darkness, worsening weather, and enemy ground fire, Lt. (j.g.) Koelsch located the downed pilot in the Anbyon Valley and began maneuvering to pick him up. Thick fog prevented the covering aircraft from protecting the unarmed helicopter, and intense enemy fire downed it as AD3 Neal was in the process of hoisting the injured man up. Koelsch, Wilkins and Neal evaded the enemy for nine days, only to be taken captive by North Korean forces before they could reach safety. During his imprisonment, Koelsch steadfastly refused to submit to his captors in any manner although brutally beaten and abused; his fortitude and personal bravery inspired his fellow prisoners. He died of malnutrition and dysentery in a Communist prison camp on 16 October 1951. For his conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, Lt. (j.g.) Koelsch was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, on 3 August 1955. AD3 Neal later received the Navy Cross.
USS Koelsch (DE-1049) was the first ship named in his honor. (Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 48364) |
Bill Gonyo |
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2 August 1970: Rockland Maine - USS Koelsch (DE-1049) at anchor. (© Richard Leonhardt) |
Richard Leonhardt |
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2 August 1970: Rockland Maine - Bow view of Koelsch at anchor. (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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2 August 1970: Rockland Maine - Stern view of Koelsch at anchor. (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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2 August 1970: Rockland Maine - Koelsch at anchor. (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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9 August 1970: New York Harbor - Moored at Pier 92 (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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22 September 1970: Boston NSY MA - Moored at Boston Naval Shipyard. (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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2 October 1970: Boston NSY MA - In drydock at Boston Naval Shipyard (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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25 January 1971: Roosevelt Roads PR - Koelsch in port. (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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29 January 1971: off St. Croix - Koelsch at sea. (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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26 February 1971: Guantanamo Bay, Cube - Koelsch approaching the fueling pier. USNS Bondia on left. (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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26 February 1971: Guantanamo Bay Cuba - shot from the liberty boat (© Richard Leonhardt) |
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March - April 1972: the Atlantic - Koelsch making an underway replenishment approach to USS Intrepid (CVS-11) during a March to April, 1972 six-week mini-cruise to Rota,Spain and Lisbon,Portugal. |
© Jim Converse
LT(jg), USNR
USS Intrepid (CVS-11) |
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March - April 1972: the Atlantic - Koelsch sliding in alongside Intrepid during an underway replenishment during a six-week mini-cruise. |
© Jim Converse
LT(jg), USNR
USS Intrepid (CVS-11) |
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March - April 1972: the Atlantic - Koelsch breaking away from Intrepid after an underway replenisment during a six-week mini-cruise. |
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March 1980: Persian Gulf - Port beam view of Koelsch underway. |
© Walter Bengtson |
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21 May 1985: At sea - A starboard bow view of Koelsch underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-00294 from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
Navsource |
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20 November 1986: At sea - A starboard bow view of Koelsch underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-01425 from the DVIC) |
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20 November 1986: At sea - An elevated starboard quarter view of Koelsch underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-01432 from the DVIC) |
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31 May 1989: NavSta Charleston SC - Officers and crew of Koelsch stand at ease before ceremonies transferring the ship to the Pakistani Navy, where it will be commissioned PNS Siqqat. In the background is a pier with the destroyer tender USS Sierra (AD 18). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-89-09580 by PH3 Peter Dunn from the DVIC) |
Bill Gonyo |
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31 May 1989: Charleston SC - A starboard quarter view of the frigate USS Koelsch (FF-1049), before it transferred to the Pakistani Navy, where it will become PNS Siqqat. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-89-09583 by PH3 Peter Dunn from the DVIC) |
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