William ‘Bill’ Koc: Learning to Fly

By Mallory Pistek, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

William “Bill” Koc was born in the city of Stickney, IL in October 1946. Bill was one of twelve children (being #3 himself). He remembers always being surrounded by family. Unfortunately, during Bill’s sophomore year in high school, his father passed away. His father had worked for the Daley Machine and his mother was a housewife.  Bill remembers the small community rallying around his family and helping them stay afloat. 

Bill went to Morton West High School and remembers being a good student. He also was on the wrestling team while there. While in high school, Bill recalls working at Kiddyland (which was a small amusement park) with many of his siblings as the owner lived only five doors down the street. 

After graduating high school, Bill decided to enlist in the Marine Corps. He doesn’t exactly remember why he choose the Marines but his father had been in the Navy and his Uncle in the Corps himself. When Bill enlisted, he was guaranteed aviation because he had signed up for four years. Bill’s enlistment started in February 1966.

Bill reported to basic training at Camp Pendleton, California with a friend who had also signed up at the same time. Luckily, he was in good shape physically and didn’t struggle too much. Bill did say this time was rough as at that time they still shot live bullets over your head and they had to endure the gas chamber.  He did state as he looked back it now, “it wasn’t so bad.”

After Camp Pendleton, Bill was sent to Memphis where he completed Aviation school. He then was sent to Cherry Point, North Carolina to a Marine Corps base that he remembers fondly. Bill became a Sergeant quickly as it was necessary for him to hold that position as an Aviation Crew Chief. 

Two training missions that Bill specifically recalls were ejection seat training and survival-evasion school.

Bill remembers especially looking forward to ejection seat training. It was his first time in a jet, a T33 to be specific. In that type of plane, the seat ejected through the canopy.  Bill remembers the pilot stating that if there was a problem, he should eject immediately “because by the time I say it, I’ll already be gone.”

Survival-evasion school was a different story as Bill thinks of this as the ‘worst’ part of being in the military.  Bill and his fellow Marines were sent by a small boat into a wooded area, two at a time.  Each man was only given a bayonet and a canteen of water. The goal was not to be captured. However, by the end of the day each man had been caught and was interrogated the whole night.  The next morning, each man was let go and was then required to survive the rest of the week independently. 

Bill was almost always in the air. He recalls that most of the time, he was away from base for a minimum of eight hours.  Wherever the plane went, Bill and his crew went also. Luckily, as Crew Chief, Bill flew in the cockpit which had oxygen while the rest of the plane was not so lucky.  Because of this, while in flight, the planes had to fly through all weather conditions instead of above it. This lead to a couple of bumpy rides.

Bill does recall one flight, when he was in a A-6, that took a turn for the worst. The plane was taking a beating with some really bad weather, especially strong winds, near Kansas City.  As they were flying, the engine was torn off the plane.  Luckily, Bill and his crew were able to land with no injuries. 

As one of Bills main missions, he and his crew often flew cross country. They would first fly up to New York to get attack and fighter planes. The crew would then fly cross country (often stopping in Vegas to blow off some steam AND take a much-needed break) before continuing on to Whidbey Island in Washington for maintenance.  On the way back, they would often stop in Illinois and enjoy a quick moment with friends or family.

Bill also states that while flying cross country, when the crew did need to land, they tried to always make it an Air Force base.  Bill stated that Air Force bases always had the best facilities and the best food.  

Throughout his service, Bill was close to being sent to Vietnam twice. Once, he was stationed on the USS Pueblo, suited up and ready to go but never received the orders. Then in 1968, he and a fellow Marine named Jackson were told that one of them had to go.  Both men had exactly the same amount of time in and many other similarities. Since neither jumped at the opportunity, they flipped a coin. Jackson was sent. 

With Vietnam winding down, Bill decided not to re-enlist and was actually allowed out a month early in January 1970.  Six months earlier, Bill had gotten married to his sweetheart, Carol, from back home who he had been dating prior to the service. 

Back home, Bill went to Lewis University were he studied aviation.  However, he ended up not going into that field, but instead started working for a company in Cicero that worked with filtration equipment and welding. He eventually moved to the company who had sold the equipment to his previous company. There, Bill worked with high tech plasma and nuclear power plants.  

After that position, Bill went to work for a friend at Award Emblem Mgt.  Bill worked here from 1981 thru 2021.  He retired as Vice President and a trustee.

Bill and his wife got into country line/western dancing.  A friend of his asked if he would like to start a club which they named the ‘Country Club.’  The club had their dances on Sundays and had over 300 members.   Bill and his wife were happily married for 44 years before her passing.  Bill decided this was a good time to end the club on a high note.  Bill and his wife had two sons and now have two grandkids.  Bill now spends his time with his fiance, Diane. 

Bill left the Corps with an Honorable Discharge. Looking back on his life, and his service, Bill states that he is “very blessed.”

Bill could not be more excited about his honor flight. He found out about this opportunity through other vets who went on a previous flights. Bill had first applied for the flight in 2021 but Covid had put that on hold.

Thank you for your service Bill. Enjoy your Honor Flight!