Night Rescue in Korea: When One Pilot Said "I'll Go”

In this Footnotes in History mini-episode of The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast, host Captain Tim “Lucky” Kinsella, U.S. Navy (Ret.) recounts the extraordinary life, final mission, and enduring legacy of Lieutenant John Kelvin “Jack” Koelsch, the first helicopter pilot in U.S. history to receive the Medal of Honor.
From a near-suicidal night rescue behind enemy lines in Korea to his quiet heroism as a prisoner of war, Koelsch’s story shaped combat search and rescue doctrine, influenced the U.S. military Code of Conduct, and left a legacy that continues to guide American service members decades later.