Badge of Honor
continued from front

In August 2001, the State Board of Education passed a law where eligible veterans or a person acting on behalf of an eligible deceased World War II veteran could apply for a high school diploma.

Koenig wasted no time in taking advantage of the opportunity.

The Call to Service

Koenig, a private first class, served in the 3rd battalion of the 158th infantry of the U.S. Army. He was called to duty on June 22, 1943, just before his junior year of high school.

"It was hard to leave," Koenig said. "With the war going on and all of my friends going into the military, it was hard to concentrate on school. My country needed me. I felt that going into the Army was the right thing to do."

In June 1943, Koenig left for basic training. When he completed his training, he then joined an infantry that played an unique and important role in the war in the Pacific.

Life as a 'Bushmaster'

The 158th Infantry saw its share of heated battles. The group was called the 'Bushmasters' and was trained in jungle warfare. Gen. Douglas MacArthur personally selected and requested that the Bushmasters be sent to his command in the Southwest Pacific Theater of War. One of the first major battles the 158th was engaged in was on Noemfoor Island on the coast of New Guinea.

The reason the small island was given any attention was because it had two operational airfields and one well along in construction. MacArthur's advance required airfields in the area for launching strikes into Borneo and into the Philippines. The infantry engaged in heavy fighting with Japanese troops and 15 days later, the Americans had taken control of the island.

"We were actually the start of what's known today as the Special Forces that fought in battles such as Vietnam," Koenig said. "You don't hear a lot about the jungle warfare that went on in World War II, but that's what we specialized in. The Japanese were fierce fighters and knew the lay of the land. Our extensive training prepared us for missions and other battles in small, but important, islands of the Pacific."

The Invasion That Never Took Place

With the war becoming more heated, MacArthur had the 158th prepare to lead a massive invasion of Japan. It was a mission that never took place, because of the surrender of Japanese forces after the dropping of the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. 

"Had it not been for that event, we would have been invading Japan on what would have probably been a suicide mission," Koenig said. "We had been training for months for the mission. We were told that we would probably lose 95 percent of our guys. It would have been a bloody fight."

Without a Scratch

Koenig dodged bullets and other deadly hazards of combat throughout his military career. Unlike many soldiers, he made it through World War II without a single wound.

"I was just lucky I guess," he said. "The good Lord was definitely looking over my shoulder. That's for sure."

However, the elements were sometimes just as deadly as the battle itself.

"In jungle warfare, you had to be observant to snakes, spiders and other insects," Koenig said. "Many of our guys came down with malaria and jungle fever. I fought a bout of malaria myself. Those things were some of the hardest to contend with."

Coming Home

Koenig was never more happy to see American soil when he returned home in late December of 1945.

"It was good to be home," he said. "So many of my friends did not make it back. My mother was a nervous wreck during the war. She dreaded seeing a military officer coming to the door to deliver bad news."

Koenig planted roots in Pasadena and went to work for the Harris County road and maintenance department, a position he held from 1947 until 1984. He nad his wife Nadine moved to Dublin, TX. in 1985 after his retirement. His daughter Sandra Koenig still resides in Pasadena.

"I have very fond memories of my days at Pasadena High School," Koenig said. "Receiving my diploma will be another cherished one."