Robert Joshua Koch, Brig. Gen. (Ret)'s Obituary
Robert J. Koch was born May 24, 1925 in Picayune, Mississippi.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point on June 3, 1947, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Artillery. During his time at West Point he was an alternate on the United States Olympic Equestrienne Team.
In August of 1948 he was assigned to the 57th Field Artillery Battalion, Far East Command, in Korea. He later served with the 31st Field Battalion, also in Korea, before being reassigned to the 555th Field Artillery Battalion, United States Army, Pacific, in Hawaii. In May of 1950, he was deployed back to Korea, serving as assistant S-3 of the 555th Field Artillery Battalion and assumed command of Battery A, 555th, in December of the same year.
He returned to the United States in 1951 and attended the Artillery Officer’s Advanced Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Upon graduation he joined the Staff and Faculty as an instructor until January, 1954 when he became Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, The Artillery School. In June of that year he departed Fort Sill serving as Aide-de –Camp to the Commanding General, V Corps, United States Army, Europe; S-3, 290th Armored Field Artillery Battalion; executive officer of the same unit; and in November of 1956, he assumed command of the battalion as it returned to the United States.
He attended and graduated from the Naval War College in 1958, and then returned to the United States Military Academy where he served as a tactical officer with the Cadet Corps. Later he became the U.S. Army representative to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and Battalion Officer of a regiment of midshipmen. In 1961 he became the G-3, 2d Missile Command, Fort Carson, Colorado; executive officer for an infantry training regiment and commanding officer of basic and advanced individual training units at Fort Carson. In 1962 he activated the 6th Battalion, 20th Artillery, at the same installation.
Graduating from the Army War College in 1964, he returned to Hawaii, this time as Chief, Requirements and Collection Branch, Joint Staff, Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC). After a three year stay in Hawaii he was dispatched to the Republic of Vietnam in 1967 as Commander, 23d Artillery Group.
In 1968, following his tour in Vietnam, he became Chief of the Command and Control Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army. In September of 1970, he was made Chief of the Field Artillery Branch, Office of Personnel Operations, Department of the Army.
He returned to Vietnam in August of 1971 and assumed command of XXIV Corps Artillery. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on September 29, 1971. Upon inactivation of the Corps Artillery in November 1971, he became Assistant Division Commander (Support) in the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile). In 1971 he attended and completed a masters degree in International Affairs at George Washington University and that same year attended and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. From January to August, 1972 he was assigned to Headquarters, United States Army Vietnam as Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel and Administration.
On August 1, 1972 he assume the position of Assistant Commandant, US Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was then assigned to Readiness Command as Deputy J-5 from where he retired from the Army in 1975. He later joined Lykes Brothers Steamship Company as Vice President from which he retired to work on his golf game and spend more time with his family.
During his time in the military he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak leaf cluster, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf cluster, Air Medal with 18 Oak Leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with gold star, Vietnamese Honor Medal. He has also received the Key to the City and title of Honorary Mayor of Gadsden, Alabama and the Freedom Foundation Award at Valley Forge, PA.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the D Day Museum, former Board Member of the Tchefuncta Country Club and the World Trade Center. He was also a former member of the Boston Club, Southern Yacht Club, Prophets of Persia and Army/Navy Club.
He is survived by his spouse, Marguerite Louise dela Houssaye, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Roy dela Houssaye, deceased., and by five of his six children, Josh Koch (Claire Noe Koch), Chris Koch (Sara Shearer Koch), Roy Koch (Laura McLaughlin Koch), Marguerite Rose (Michael Rose) and Leione Brown (Richard Brown,and brother Harvey C. Koch. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. ). He is preceded in death by his mother, Nellie Williams Stem, his brother, Jack E. Koch and his son, Dr. Fernin Charles Koch.
He was and will continue to be loved enormously by his family and those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Visitation will take place at St. Anselm Church, 306 St. Mary St., Madisonville, LA 70447 this Thursday, May 26, 2011 beginning at 9:00 a.m. followed by mass at 11:00. Interment in Theodore Dendinger Cemetery.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the National World War II Museum or the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Bayou Chapter.
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