John Koelsch

John Koelsch served as a Combat Platoon Leader in Vietnam. He was awarded a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Bronze Star with “V” Device for Valor, and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. In 2009, 2010, and 2011 he experienced positive results in the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition writing in various forms. John currently resides in Salem, Virginia with his wife Nancy Wheeler.

Of MICKEY 6, John writes:
"You may have read many stories about war but have you ever lived through it? Mickey 6 takes you on a journey through the Vietnam War in the mind of a man who did. You will experience the rush of battle adrenaline, the fury of combat, the horror of death and destruction surrounding you, and the despair for ever finding a path home. You will come to understand that men fight, finally, for each other in the hope they will all survive. You will discover the true cost to the soul of doing what is necessary to accomplish the mission, while striving against overwhelming odds and fighting both the enemy and those who should be supporting you, to keep those around you alive. At the last, you will know that those who serve want recognition only for doing their job and will leave heroes and devils to the judgment of others."

Other Publications by John Koelsch
Strategic Budgeting (ICMA MIS Report) (5,000+ sold - Non-fiction)
A Christmas Pony (Short Story) – (Patchwork Path: Christmas Stocking Anthology)

Poetry
Love is in The Air – “Horizons” – South Carolina Writers Workshop Anthology
Shall I Lay You In Lavender – “The Quill” – SCWW Newsletter
Love Begins But Never Ends – Turning Corners – Poetry Anthology
Calm – (Haiku) – Prime Living” Magazine
Musings 1 – “Clinch Mountain Review” – Poetry Anthology
You Don’t Know –Lacrossetribune.com
Fast Movers –Lacrossetribune.com
Seasons (Haiku) - Graphics By Marilyn: Lara’s Den ~ Haiku: Seasons
Bugs – Graphics by Marilyn: Lara’s Den ~ Bugs
Silent Thunder – Graphics by Marilyn: Lara’s Den ~ Silent Thunder
The Unique Whole - Graphics By Marilyn: Lara’s Den ~ The Unique Whole
Cherry Blossoms – (Haiku) Sandusky Register Newspaper

Awards
National Veterans Creative Arts Competitions
Forever In Black (Poem) – 1st Local/2009
Harvest (Poem Collection) – 1st Local/2009
The Interview (Duologue) – 1st Local & 1st National/2009
Ghosts (Monologue) – 1st Local & 3rd National/2010
The General - Keith Lincoln Ware (Short Story) – 1st Local & 1st National/2010
Andraste (Poem) – 1st Local/2010
Shirley Jeffries Memorial Therapeutic Arts Scholarship Recipient/2010
Grunts (Poem) – 1st Local & 2nd National/2011
Call Of Duty (Monologue) – 1st Local & 1st National/2011
Service (Short Story) – 1st Local/2011

Poems
Forever In Black – 1st Spiritual Category - “Poetry Square Off I” Columbia, SC /2002
Flutterbys – 3rd Open Category - “Poetry Square Off II” Columbia, SC/2003
Olde Wheelbarrow New Tulips – 2nd Adult Category – Botetourt County Library Poetry Contest, VA/2007

Short Stories
The Interview – 2nd – Virginia Writers Club (Valley Writers)/2009

Website: http://www.milspeak.org/milspeak/MICKEY_6_October_Release.html

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