Record Group 024
NARRATOR: William E. Koch
BIOGRAPHY: Bill Koch, born in Massachusetts in 1959, served in the Marine Corps between 1976 and 1996, and was stationed in Okinawa, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. He was a Gunnery Sergeant in the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion during the Persian Gulf War, 1991.
BIRTHDATE: February 10, 1959
OCCUPATION: Insurance
INTERVIEWER: Jeremy Sizemore
DATE: September 24, 2003
Date processed: 5-2005
Processed By: M. Olliff
|
Initials |
Side |
Time |
Topic of Discussion |
|---|---|---|---|
|
JS |
1 |
00:00 |
Introduction |
|
BK |
1 |
0:50 |
Goes to join the navy but tricked into joining the Marines |
|
BK |
1 |
2:15 |
First day in the Marine Corp. was just like you see on T.V. |
|
BK |
1 |
4:53 |
Drill Instructor rode me hard. It wasn't until I graduated boot camp that I found out the reason he rode me hard was because we were from the same hometown. |
|
BK |
1 |
6:00 |
Made it through boot camp by referring to the recruiter saying that I would never become a Marine. Always had a competitive nature so it was a must to make it. |
|
BK |
1 |
6:51 |
After boot camp, went for Field Skills Training Unit (FSTU). |
|
BK |
1 |
7:44 |
Deployed to the 2nd Battalion 8th Marines in the Caribbean. Trained for war. |
|
BK |
1 |
9:38 |
Deployed to Saudi Arabia for the Persian Gulf War 1. Moves into desert to carry out mission of clearing mine fields for the advancement into Kuwait. |
|
BK |
1 |
11:00 |
Desert Storm kicks off. Sorties flying above and it known that the war has started. |
|
BK |
1 |
11:55 |
No personal engagement is incurred. Iraqi forces that are met just surrender. Artillery bombardment did occur. |
|
BK |
1 |
13:14 |
Job in the war was to clear paths through the mine fields for troop advancement. Three tanks are blown up in this process but no lives are lost. |
|
BK |
1 |
22:30 |
War recollection. Did serve six months on naval ship in 1983. During this time the Marine barracks in Beirut were bombed and placed on standby |
|
BK |
1 |
24:14 |
Keeping in touch with family was done only writing. No phones in the desert to talk on. It took around two weeks to respond through letters. |
|
BK |
1 |
25:00 |
Military food. On base it got progressively better over time. In the field MREs were eaten. |
|
BK |
1 |
29:16 |
The war was very stressful. In command of forty Men that must be kept safe from harm. |
|
BK |
2 |
31:26 |
Almost involved in friendly fire. Commanding officers were coming back into camp on tanks and almost fired upon by platoon. |
|
BK |
2 |
33:45 |
A sense of camaraderie existed between the men and commanding officers. Each man trusted his life with the one beside him. |
|
BK |
2 |
34:50 |
Retired on 24 May 1996. Last day was exciting but also confusing. |
|
BK |
2 |
36:21 |
After the Marine Corp., took a job at West Building supply Company in Dothan. Became a family man. |
|
BK |
2 |
37:07 |
Keep in touch with two fellow Marines by mainly e-mail and some phone conversations. |
|
BK |
2 |
38:35 |
Military influenced life a great deal. Carries the Marine code of honor in everything that is done daily. |
|
BK |
2 |
40:30 |
Recommend everyone serve at least two years in military. Military makes a man or woman out of people. Military teaches independence. |