Lt Col Ed Kosakoski Passed Friday, July 22

My former commanding officer and best man at my wedding has died.

Lieut. Col. Ed Kosakowski passed away Friday evening after a long battle with Alzheimer's and other ailments. Ingrid called with the sad news. Arrangements thus far are for services to be on August 1 including graveside military honors. I will post more here as I get news.

Ed's long service to the country began as an army private. He advanced to master sergeant and then joined the Air Force.  He was eventually commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer. Ed's civilian career was as a pharmacist followed by civil service as an air reserve technician. His last assignment was as commander of the 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Westover Air Force Base Massachusetts.

There are a great number of Air Force officers grateful to "Colonel K" for his influence on our careers. So many squadron NCOs were commissioned under his leadership that we jokingly called his efforts "Colonel K's OCS."

Ed married Ingrid and they had one son, Eddie Junior. Both Eddie Junior and Ingrid showed their lasting love for Ed in caring for him during these last difficult years.

Ed happened to be the first C-123 veteran awarded VA benefits in mid 2015 once our battle to win Agent Orange benefits finally succeeded.

God bless the family.

VA Awards First C-123 Agent Orange Claim to Ed Kosakoski

Great News!

Retired LtCol Ed Kosakoski, former commander of the 74th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Westover AFB MA, was awarded service connection for his Agent Orange exposure and resultant prostate cancer. The VA's action was taken yesterday, July 17 and retroactive to June 19. 

Staffers for Under Secretary for Benefits Allison Hickey notified his family of the good news. Ed's claim happened to be the first to be processed under the VA's interim final rule ordered by Secretary McDonald for post-Vietnam C-123 veterans, with the St. Paul VARO assigned to process all C-123 claims.

A pharmacist in civilian life, Ed's military service began in the Army, rising to Master Sergeant before earning his Air Force commission and transfer to the Air Force Reserve. As a squadron commander he took special interest in helping his senior airmen earn their commissions, and so many did his unit developed a reputation as "Colonel K's OCS." He is married to retired active duty LtCol Ingrid Kosakoski.

Good job, VA!