Interviewed by:

Nick Jones and Kenny Keyes

" It's changed. We're all human beings. They believe what they believe in
and we believe in what we believe in."
~ Donald Kochka (07.17)

Donald Kochka's Story:

Donald V. Kochka is an extraordinary proud man. He enlisted in the war because of the lack of activities back at home. He felt he was doing more for himself serving for the army. He said the war made a man out of him because of the brutality behind it. Basic training was even harder, they pushed you extremely hard to make sure you were prepared. The hardest part was being away from his family, which was turned when they joined him. His job was to service the radar looking for incoming foreign aircraft. Staying up long nights to make sure nothing gets through. The conditions were rainy, lots and lots of rain making easier tasks even harder. The hardest moment for him was seeing wounded and dead men being unloaded off of an aircraft carrier. His views on the war is that we lost too many boys and girls out there, and maybe we shouldn't have been there in the first place. We did our duties however and can't change that but have to look back and be thankful that we did not lose more. The war has changed him but remains positive by surrounding himself with the love of his family. He thinks about this war everyday and realized what he's done for himself and for his country. Reflecting back on it is rough, he does it on occasions. The men that shared the experience with him are very close to him and they developed a very special bond. Vietnam and the story created behind it will always be a part of this veteran.