Not only is Jack Donald Koser one of an ever-decreasing faction of U.S. World War II veterans, but Nov. 8, 2019, marked the occasion of his 100th birthday. Koser’s family and friends gathered at his residence in Bradenton, Florida, to celebrate the outstanding achievement.
Jack was born in 1919 in St. Joseph, Missouri. The eldest of three siblings, Jack first learned to fly while attending high school. Instead of being drafted, Jack chose to enlist in the Army Air Corps in 1940.
In recent years, a stroke has affected Jack’s clarity of speech. His memories, however, remain crystal clear. “I flew 23 missions against Japan,” he recalled. “I could hear the rumblings of war.”
The young pilot was deployed to Tinian, one of the three islands of the Northern Mariana Islands. He flew a B-29 with the 6th Bomb Group, 39th Bombardment Group, and the 313th Bombardment Wing of the 20th Air Force. “Some [missions] were easy; some of them were tough,” he recalled.
Once promoted to Aircraft Commander, Jack assembled a brand-new, crack team of pilots to make a flight into China to drop supplies inside a prisoner-of-war camp. Jack and his crew filled two bomb bays with medicine and food and made two passes over the camp.
Later, in 1946, Jack became an aide to Lieutenant General E. R. Quesada in Tactical Air Command. The esteemed pilot received two unit citations, two distinguished flying crosses, and five air medals, all of which hang proudly on his bedroom wall today.
After the war ended, Jack joined the University of Texas at Austin and earned a degree in physics. He obtained a master of arts in physics three years later.
Many would proudly assert that Jack is a true American hero. After the war, Jack continued serving his country for 24 years; he acted as President Harry Truman’s personal aide before marrying—only single men were entitled to serve in this position—and later served in the Pentagon.
Jack married Eleanor Jean Morgan on Aug. 3, 1951, in Arlington County, Virginia. The couple had four children: Vickie, Robert, Michael, and Chynne.
The dedicated veteran finally retired in 1961 and moved to live with his son in Bradenton, Florida. And on Nov. 8, 2019, with his family by his side, Jack celebrated 100 years of life.
Time is swiftly running out for the citizens of the United States of America to hear World War II veterans’ memories of battles won and lost and to honor their service and sacrifice in person. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, however, Jack Donald Koser was able to share his story.
