Today, I would like to take the time to honor family Veterans for Memorial Day.The first two both saw action during the Korean War.
It is my honor to introduce to you my Dad, John Koenig, who was inducted into the service on May 5,1952 and exited with the rank of Corporal on March 24,1954 at Camp Carson Colorado. His time was spent on Japan and eventually he moved over to South Korea to take up his post. According to his discharge papers he was a mechanic/ truck driver in the 74th Engineer Heavy Equipment CO APO 301.
We have pictures Dad sent to my Grandmother while he voyaged on ships, toured the streets and countrysides of foreign countries. Research has opened up some general information about the pictures which didn't include any identifying information.
One of the stories we have heard is that when he was delivering a repaired truck back to a squad in the early morning hours he got lost just over the North Korean border because he didn't have a compass to give him direction. Topping it all off he fell asleep at the wheel and over turned in a ditch.
He returned to the States, had a family, and was taken to be with the Lord in his 39th year due to a truck accident. That was 40 years ago when I was 13.
Another person I would like to honor is my Mother's brother, Kenneth Livengood, who served in the Air Force during the Korean War from March 1951-1955,stationed in Japan.
My Mother said," That while he was in the service he was apart of a group of men providing special intelligence information. His missions
would have him attached to a briefcase with handcuffs." She mentioned that you never knew exactly where he was at any given time.
Like my Father, he too has passed on.
Another Army man, my brother Dale Koenig worked as a mechanic and served in Germany for several years in the early 1980's.
A story we have heard from him is that while in Germany he had a traffic mishap transporting a truck and because of our German name they didn't pursue any traffic violation charges. It sounded as though it happened on one of their narrow mountain passes where travel was extremely precarious. Thankfully everything turned out okay.
The next generation now serving our country at home and soon to be abroad, our nephews, John and Chris, sons of Dale and Joy Koenig.
John entered the Air Force after High School graduation in 1999. He is trained as a Satellite Wideband and Telemetry technician. He traveled the world during his two tours of duty and is now working at the 133rd Test Squadron in Fort Dodge, IA.
Chris became a member of the Iowa Army National Guard in January. He will be joining others in the President's planned upsurge of troops to Afghanistan in the war against the Taliban. Maybe he will get a chance to meet our fellow blogger Albert Rasch from The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles.
I speak of men who lived through their tours of duty and who are yet to complete time in the field...
Our families have many not mentioned here that have added their time in War and Peace time service, to them Thank You.
However, now I would like to thank those families who have lost loved ones in the service to this country, for what they have given for the security and freedom we still experience.
