Once a year, the nation comes together in commemoration of those who have served out of patriotism and love for their country. Once a year, we honor those who once donned the uniform. And once a year, we sit down and get to know one of those people and choose to celebrate them.
When Phillip Koch received his draft notice in September 1969, he was already two steps ahead. After graduating high school, Koch already had plans to join the military — much like his father who served in the Army Air Force during WWII — but he would go on his own terms.
“I was drafted but I didn’t go in because everybody in my county that was getting drafted was getting put in the Marines and I didn’t want to go to the Marines, so I joined the Air Force,” Koch said.
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