caption serviceyears branch death_place death_date birth_place allegiance unit awards placeofburial_label battles birth_date placeofburial nickname rank image article_title name
lt -lrb- jg -rrb- john k. koelsch 1942 -- 1951 25px united states navy north korea 16 october 1951 london , england united states of america composite helicopter squadron 1 -lrb- hu-1 -rrb- princeton cv-37 helicopter squadron squadron 2 -lrb- hu-2 -rrb- 15 torpedo squadron 97 torpedo squadron 18 medal of honor purple heart place of burial korean war 22 december 1923 arlington national cemetery `` jack '' lieutenant -lrb- junior grade -rrb- john k koelsch.jpg john kelvin koelsch
 john kelvin koelsch
john kelvin koelsch

john kelvin koelsch -lrb- december 22 , 1923 -- october 16 , 1951 -rrb- was a united states navy officer and a recipient of america 's highest military decoration -- the medal of honor -- for his actions in the korean war .
he was the first helicopter pilot to be awarded the medal of honor .
