By Joanna Bastian
Robert E. Koczewski of Gold Creek was laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., on April 23. Robert died eight months earlier during the height of the Carlton Complex Fires, when he suffered a heart attack on the morning of July 19, 2014.
In the previous days, Robert and his wife, Patty, worked day and night, moving thick, long fire hoses across several acres of landscaped trees and bushes. The generator-powered pump drew water from the creek and needed regular refueling. It was hard to find time to rest and eat, with every simple task elongated by the burden of power outages and no running water.
Robert’s Vietnam War wounds from decades earlier had taken their toll in recent years. A gunshot wound to his leg made it difficult to walk. Circulatory problems related to his injuries affected his heart, and an aneurysm formed in the aorta. As Robert hauled heavy jugs of water from the South Fork Gold Creek and hurled them at the flames threatening the wooden bridge that was their only egress, he collapsed on the bank.
A celebration of his life was held in the park at the Winthrop Barn a few weeks later. His son, Robert Jr., delivered a heartfelt eulogy that had Robert’s family and friends alternately laughing, nodding in agreement, and crying tears of loss for the man who loved to tell jokes and eyebrow-raising stories. Fellow Marines and state troopers shared memories of the man who said, “Just call me Ski.” Uniformed officers from both the U.S. Marine Corps and the Washington State Patrol performed traditional honors. President Barack Obama offered his condolences to Patty in a private telephone call.
Robert Koczewski of Gold Creek was laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery with full military honors provided by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Eight months later, Patty carried Robert’s ashes to Washington, D.C., to fulfill his wish of spending eternity with the men he served beside in Vietnam. Robert’s 26 years of service in the Marine Corps included three tours in Vietnam, where he achieved the rank of sergeant major. In 1983, Robert aided in the recovery of the Beirut barracks bombing, where 220 fellow Marines lost their lives. He saw additional war horrors in Colombia and Grenada. Robert was awarded two Purple Hearts during his years of service. His long and active military career came to an honored end at Arlington National Cemetery.
April 23 in the nation’s capital dawned cold and clear. Raindrops from the night before rolled from the delicate pink cherry blossoms and glistened in the chill of the morning light.
A dignified parade of Marines provided full military honors and accompanied Robert to his final resting place. The president’s personal band stood ready at the front. They played the oldest official song in the armed forces, “The Marine Corps Hymn.”
The lyrics of the second verse rang true for Robert, who served in U.S. embassies around the world:
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes,
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.
The stately band was followed by a silent drill platoon, commissioned officers, and a horse-drawn caisson with military escort. The caisson carried a flag-draped casket which held
Robert’s ashes, and was pulled by six black horses.
Patty, Robert’s daughter Melissa, Robert Jr., and sister Dottie walked behind the carriage, accompanied by extended family members and friends. The procession walked nearly three miles from the gates of Arlington, through the green lawns dotted with white headstones, and down the hill towards the Potomac River. It was the first ceremony of the morning, and the avenue was lined with tourists and school children on field trips. “He would have liked that,” Patty said. Robert loved kids.
As the parade approached the McClellan Arch, rays of sunlight filtered through the trees. Patty was reminded of Robert’s words, “If anyone asks where I am, tell them I’m over the rainbow.”
