We are honored to introduce Mr. George Koch as our guest for Walk Among Heroes Podcast Episode 36.  Mr. Koch is our first guest who served as a U.S. Merchant Marine.  Born and raised in New York, Mr. Koch (pronounced ‘Coke’) dropped out of high school in tenth grade to join the Merchant Marines.  At age 16 in September 1944, he reported to his first ship in New York Harbor.  He soon found himself sailing north on the Murmansk Run.  The Murmansk Run was a LONG, treacherous journey through German-controlled, Arctic frozen waters, from the United States to Russia, past Norway and through northern Europe.  At the time, the United States was manufacturing weapons and supplies to support our allies (Lend-Lease Program) including Russia, in their fight against Germany on the Eastern front.  Because Japan had the Pacific blockaded, we were forced to deliver supplies from the Atlantic north of Europe to the Russian port of Murmansk.

During the journey to Murmansk, Mr. Koch’s ship was attacked by a German U-Boat and was nearly hit by a torpedo.  Other ships in his convoy were hit.  Upon arriving in Murmansk, Mr. Koch was able to visit the city, interact with Russian soldiers and local civilians, and became one of just a few U.S. soldiers who set foot on Russian soil during World War II.  In February 2021, Russia awarded Mr. Koch with the Medal of Ushakov, a rare military honor seldom awarded to anyone outside of Russia.

Today, Mr. Koch resides in Rotonda West, FL with his lovely wife of 75 years, Jean.