Martin Koleski

Martin Koleski born April 26, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He joined the Air Force December 7,1942, one year after Pearl Harbor at the age of seventeen.  While stationed in Kearney awaiting deployment to France he met Gwendolyn Rosenthal, they married January 2,1949 and had five children.  

He served during WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam Nam War, earning the Berlin Airlift Medal and the Bronze Star.  He was a jet engine mechanic working on B-47s and the F4 Phantoms.  After returning from Vietnam Nam in 1968 he was stationed in Wichita.  With the possibility of being sent back to Vietnam Nam he decided after 27 1/2 years and achieving the rank of Senior Master Sergeant E-8 it was time to retire and return to Nebraska the state he loved.

His legacy lives on through those who have served after him.  They are son Danny Koleski Sr. US Army, grandsons Caleb McCaffery USMC, Micah McCaffery USAF-Desert Storm and Danny Koleski Jr. USMC-Desert Storm.    Currently serving grandson Colonel Brock Koleski USAF and great grandson Cpl. Corey Koleski USMC.
Survived by son, Danny, daughters Kay, Chris and Cindy.  Ten grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren with one on the way.