>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1968) Vol. 3, pp.672-673.





KOELSCH





	John Kelvin Koelsch, born 22 December 1923 in London, 

England, enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Naval 

Reserve 14 September 1942.  Following flight training, he 

was commissioned Ensign 23 October 1944.  He served at Naval 

Air Stations at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Norfolk, Va., and 

subsequently flew with Composite Squadron 15 and Torpedo 

Squadrons 97 and 18.  Promoted to lieutenant (j.g.) 1 August 

1946, he became an accomplished torpedo bomber pilot.  After 

the outbreak of Communist aggression in Korea, he joined 

Helicopter Squadron 1 at Miramar, Calif., in August 1950.  

As Officer in Charge of a helicopter detachment, he joined 

aircraft carrier PRINCETON (CV-37) in October for pilot 

rescue duty off the eastern coast of Korea.  He served in 

PRINCETON until June 1951 when he joined Helicopter Squadron 

2 for pilot rescue duty out of Wonsan, Korea, then under 

naval blockade.  He provided lifeguard duty for pilots who 

were downed either in coastal waters or over enemy-held 

territory.  On 22 June, he rescued a Naval aviator from the 

waters of Wonsan Harbor, southeast of Yo-Do Island.  Late in 

the afternoon of 3 July, he responded to a distress call 

from a Marine aviator, Capt. James V. Wilkins, whose Corsair 

had been hit by enemy fire during an armed reconnaissance 

mission about 35 miles southwest of Wonsan.  Capt. Wilkins 

parachuted from his burning plane at low altitude; and, 

though severely burned about the legs, he survived.  Despite 

approaching darkness, worsening weather, and enemy ground 

fire, Lt. Koelsch located the downed aviator in the Anbyon 

Valley and began his pickup.  Thick fog prevented the air 

cover from protecting the unarmed helicopter, and intense 

enemy fire downed the plane as the Lieutenant’s crewman, 

George M. Neal, AM3, hoisted the injured pilot toward the 

helicopter.  All three men survived the crash, and, after 

hiding in the mountains from enemy patrols for 3 days, they 

began a slow march to the coast.  After 6 more days, they 

reached a coastal village where they were captured the 

following day while hiding in a hut.  During his captivity 

Koelsch steadfastly refused to aid his captors in any 

manner.  Though beaten and abused, he refused to submit to 

interrogation; and his fortitude and personal bravery 

inspired his fellow prisoners.  He died of malnutrition and 

dysentery 16 October 1951.  For his conspicuous gallantry, 

intrepidity, and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, Lt. (j.g.) 

Koelsch was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 3 August 

1955.





DE-1049

Displacement:  3,040 tons 

Length:  414’6”

Beam:  44’1”

Draft:  24’2”

Speed:  20+ k.

Complement:  239

Armament:  2 5”; 4 torpedo tubes; 1 ASROC; 

	DASH drone helicopter

Class:  GARCIA



	KOELSCH (DE-1049) was laid down by Defoe Shipbuilding 

Co., Bay City, Mich., 19 February 1964; launched 8 June 

1965; sponsored by Miss Virginia L. Koelsch; and 

commissioned 10 June 1967, Comdr. John A. Buck, in command.



	She at present is providing valuable support to ships 

of the Atlantic Fleet from her homeport, Newport, R. I., 

because she has the capabilities both to screen attack and 

support ships and to operate effectively against submarines.  

Operating either alone or with a hunter-killer group, she 

can seek out and destroy enemy submarines with the most 

advanced ASW equipment.  Moreover, as is so important in a 

time of unrest and potential conflict, her ability to carry 

out blockage, surveillance, and evacuation missions at a 

moment’s notice adds readily to the Navy’s mighty deterrent 

force and to the continuing task of “keeping the peace.”



	[Reclassified a frigate on 30 June 1975, KOELSCH became 

FF-1049.  Decommissioned on 31 May 1989, she was leased to 

Pakistan and became frigate SIQQAT (F-267).  Returned to 

U.S. custody at Singapore on 19 August 1994, former KOELSCH 

was stricken from the Navy Register the same day.  

Transferred to the Maritime Administration the following 9 

September, on the same date she was sold to Trusha 

Investments Pte. Ltd, c/o Jacques Pierot, Jr. & Sons, Inc. 

of New York City for $625,824.



K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of 

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.243.

“Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships, 1947-1995,” p.300.

Internet Site:

	United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum

		www.uss-salem.org/worldnav/usa/decom.htm

Naval Institute “Proceedings,” May 1995, p.219-221.]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com