Richard Arne Koski
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 8 March 1968, First Lieutenant Richard Arne Koski was serving with Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 34th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division, in South Vietnam.

On that day, 1LT Koski was an artillery forward observer with an infantry unit during an airmobile assault mission near My Tho. The helicopter formation received a heavy volume of automatic weapons and machine gun fire as it arrived at the landing zone, and only 1LT Koski's ship and one other aircraft were able to discharge their passengers onto the battlefield. The insurgents pressed a furious assault on the outnumbered friendly forces with savage rocket, mortar and small arms fire. Braving the withering fusillade, 1LT Koski called for artillery support and skillfully adjusted the fire to within 25 meters of the defenders' perimeter. Shrapnel and enemy bullets struck all around him, but he continuously moved into the open to locate Viet Cong emplacements and destroy them with deadly strikes. Seriously wounded by an exploding enemy round, he continued his mission until he succumbed to his injuries. His selfless actions in the heat of battle were instrumental in repelling the hostile attack and forcing the insurgents to withdraw. 1LT Koski's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Field Artillery) Richard Arne Koski (ASN: 0-5424564), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Battery A, 3d Battalion, 34th Artillery, 9th Infantry Division. First Lieutenant Koski distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 8 March 1968 as artillery forward observer with an infantry unit during an airmobile assault mission near My Tho. The helicopter formation received a devastating volume of automatic weapons and machine gun fire as it arrived at the landing zone, and only Lieutenant Koski's ship and one other aircraft were able to discharge their passengers onto the battlefield. The insurgents immediately pressed a furious assault on the outnumbered friendly forces with savage rocket, mortar and small arms fire. Braving the withering fusillade, Lieutenant Koski called for artillery support and skillfully adjusted the fire to within twenty-five meters of the defenders' perimeter. Shrapnel and enemy bullets struck all around him, but he moved into the open time after time to locate Viet Cong emplacements and destroy them with deadly strikes. Seriously wounded by an exploding enemy round, he fearlessly continued his mission until he succumbed to his injuries. His gallant and selfless actions in the heat of battle were instrumental in repelling the determined hostile attack and forcing the insurgents to withdraw. First Lieutenant Koski's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General Orders No. 2869 (June 17, 1968)

Honors

The name Richard A Koski is located on Panel 43E Line 57 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

First Lieutenant Richard Arne Koski is buried at Nashwauk Cemetery in Nashwauk, Itasca County, MN.

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