Nickolas Koehler

MASON CITY — Rites for Cpl. Nickolas R. Koehler, 21, who was killed in action in South Viet Nam May 8, 1965, while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps, will be held at 2 pm Monday at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

The Rev. C. A. Hinz, pastor, will officiate.   Military rites will be conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps and burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.   The family prefers any memorials made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. 

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From Mason City Globe Gazette news article:

A 21-year-old Mason City Marine has been reported killed in action in Viet Nam.

Dead is Lance Cpl. Nickolas R. Koehler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Koehler, 1431 N. Monroe.  He was serving with the Third Marine Division.

The parents were informed of their son's death Saturday in a telegram from the Marine Corp commandant.

According to the message received, Koehler was killed by hostile gun fire while on patrol duty north of Da Nang air base.  He was killed Friday (Saturday, Iowa time).

A news dispatch early Saturday reported a marine killed in the Da Nang area.  According to the dispatch, a group of marines were touring hamlets, handing out chewing gum, candy and books.  They drew heavy fire from a house in one hamlet and the marine, presumed to have been Koehler, was fatally wounded by a rifle bullet from the Viet Cong Guerrillas.

Koehler joined the Marine Corp in January 1963 and trained at Camp Pendleton, Calif.   He had been overseas in the China Sea area since November 1964 but reportedly had been stationed in Viet Nam only a short time.

Koehler was born in Mason City April 6, 1944.  He was graduated from Mason City High School in June 1962.  He was display manager for the Montgomery Ward store for several months before enlisting in the Marines.  He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Besides his parents, he is survived by four brothers: Harry Jr. and Duane of Joliet, Ill.; Frank of Mason City; and John of Sugar Creek, Ohio.   Four sisters: Mrs. Gerald (Rosella) Schmidt and Mary Koehler of Mason City; Mrs. Dale (Clara) Sherrill, Des Moines; and Mrs. Gary (Karen) Peters, Swaledale.  His grandmother, Clara Hayungs of Woden also survives.

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