Stephen Kochick

Prepared by the Witnesses of War team

Stephen J. “Steve” Kochick was born in December 1946. Drafted into the United States Army, he served in Vietnam in 1968–1969 with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade.

On 25 August 1968, Kochick distinguished himself in combat as a Specialist Four and squad leader in the 1st Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment. His company was conducting a search-and-clear operation approximately eight miles northwest of Tam Kỳ, in South Vietnam.

For his gallantry during that action, he received the Silver Star on 9 November 1968. His military decorations also include the Purple Heart, awarded for wounds sustained in combat.

After returning from Vietnam, Kochick continued serving his community as a New York City firefighter, retiring as a lieutenant. He later settled in Madeira Beach, Florida, where he served as a city commissioner and vice mayor.

In later life, he shared his wartime experiences with students, discussing his journey from draftee to combat soldier and the enduring responsibility he felt towards his fellow veterans and his community. Through these encounters, he helped younger generations understand military service and expressed his hope that they would never have to experience war.