Florida Stories

Walter Fred Kosiewski, Ocoee

WALTER FRED KOSIEWSKI
(Nominated by Diane Kosiewski)
Ocoee Community Center
February 19, 2011

My husband is a partially disabled Veteran who served his Country from 1964-1967, after enlisting in the U.S. Army, at a time when a Viet Nam tour was pretty much inevitable.  Despite being turned down three times because of asthma, he felt it was his duty and finally was allowed to enlist on his fourth attempt.  He trained at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. We were married January 29, 1966 after he learned he would soon be shipped out, and he left March 15. Our son was born November 26, of 1966.  With no cell phones or e-mails, by mail it took 3 weeks to receive a letter.  However, through the American Red Cross, he was able to call me over a 2 way radio hook-up when I got home after our son’s birth. He was trained as a dental lab technician, served as a medic. He injured his back while in Viet Nam and came home March 15, 1967.  He is a wonderful man.  We have recently celebrated our 45th Anniversary and have 3 children and 5 grandchildren.   We have lived in Florida for 41 years, and in Ocoee, for the past 10 plus years.  We love Ocoee and I was so proud to read the 911 Flag would be in our city. It will truly be an honor for Mrs. Rosado to have the flag here after losing her daughter on 9/11, and it would be an honor for us, if my husband could be part of the ceremony as representative of Ocoee’s Viet Nam Veterans.