Vietnam veteran hoping to get free hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans
Edward Kochanski had an event where he took some disabled veteran friends with him to go fishing. They had a free license in Pennsylvania to do so. However, when they ventured into New York, his friends had to pay $70 for a New York license as they were nonresidents. As a result, Kochanski typed 50 letters for the governors of the 50 states. He is calling for providing free hunting and fishing licenses for 100% disabled veterans.
From Fox 56:
After returning home from Vietnam, Edward Kochanski says that going out into the wilderness to fish and hunt, was the only peace he could get.
“Fishing was a very important part of my life. When I came home people spit on me. They treated us real bad, us Vietnam veterans, so fishing was a way to get away from them. So, I took my disabled buddies and we went fishing up at Lake Ontario and around here,” Kochanski said.
Kochanski was inspired to write this proposal after he went fishing with his friends who were triple amputees and veterans. They were Pennsylvania residents and received free fishing licenses in Pennsylvania however, once they crossed the border into New York state, because they were non-residents his disabled comrades had to pay 70 dollars for a license.
“Well that frustrated me to no end, so I’ve always tried to do this on a national level and so I have 50 letters all typed out, with this proposal for all 50 governors across the United States”, Kochanski added.
With this proposal that Kochanski plans to mail out to all 50 governors, 100% disabled veterans would be granted free fishing and hunting licenses, which Kochanski feels is the least that this country can do.
Fox 56 provides the balance of the story here.
Category: Veterans in the news
*Sigh*
Here We Go Again…
Edward Kochanski said “When I came home people spit on me.”
THAT is an Urban Legend. A Myth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spitting_Image
“By 1992, the Director of the Connelly Library and curator of the Vietnam War Collection at LaSalle University listed the spitting myth as one of the “Top Six Myths” from the Vietnam era, and observed the myth “derives from the mythopoeic belief that returning GIs were routinely spat upon at some time during their repatriation to the USA. This particular round of tales has become so commonplace as to be treated reverently even among otherwise wisely observant veterans.”
“At the time he wrote The Spitting Image, Lembcke had not found a single substantiated media report to support the now common claims of spitting. He theorizes that the reported “spitting on soldiers” scenario was a mythical projection by those who felt “spat upon” by an American society tired of the war; an image which was then used to discredit future anti-war activism and serve political interests.”
“Lembcke attributes part of the legend’s growth to films relating to Vietnam, notably First Blood, in which a “spat-upon veteran” image is popularized. He writes that the myth of the spat-upon veteran was later revived by President George H. W. Bush as a way to help suppress dissent when selling the Gulf War to the American people.”
“According to Shafer, the myth persists primarily because:
“Those who didn’t go to Vietnam—that being most of us—don’t dare contradict the ‘experience’ of those who did;
“Myth Of The Spat Upon Vietnam Vet”
https://www.timesgazette.com/1970/01/01/myth-of-the-spat-upon-vietnam-vet/
“Spat on Veterans: An Enduring Myth”
https://www.fromthesquare.org/spat-on-veterans-an-enduring-myth/
From his Book of the Fake, April 2022.
He doesn’t look all that bitter.
He doesn’t look all that broke, either.
Do the math,
IF (only) the 100% disability VA types,
considering what they take home monthly,
really need free interstate fishing license waivers.
No one spit on me at the airports. I don’t think I even got any dirty looks. Some Krishnas at Sea-Tac did make a half-hearted attempt to recruit me to their cult. However, in October 1972, my soon-to-be bride picked me up at the Boston airport after I returned from England from the SAS CQB course. Afterwards, we went to a pub in Cambridge; and as I walked up the street in my greens and beret, some Harvard faggot called me a “baby killer.” He waited until he was past me, and out of reach.
I might add that I thought about putting a boot up his ass, but I didn’t want to spoil the spit-shine on my Corcorans on a worthless POS.
I wonder what a blood spit shine would have turned out like. Maybe make the shine look more than a mile deep? An experiment opportunity lost (sigh).
Edward Kochanski.
Dude’s getting around.
This other story featuring him came out 12 May 2023.
BTW, I don’t believe he was “spit on” after he returned from Vietnam, that is, IF he went to Vietnam…
Retired Veteran Teaching The Youth The Skill To Fish”
https://www.pahomepage.com/news/retired-veteran-teaching-the-youth-the-skill-to-fish/
“This fly fishing class inside Hanover Area High School’s gymnasium is led by Edward Kochanski, a retired Vietnam Veteran, and EMT from troop.”
Research based on newspaper article does show Edward Kochanski DID serve in Vietnam and received Valor Awards to include two Purple Hearts.
We deeply admire what he is doing with Disabled Veterans and the Youth of his community. Kudos to him.
We just don’t believe he was spit on when he returned.
According to a 1969 news article, his parents shared that SP4/Edward Kochanski served in Vietnam as a Gunner with the 82nd Airborne Division from July 1968 to July 1969. He received an ARCOM for Meritorious service for the period July-December 1968 and was awarded a second ARCOM with Valor for actions in 1969. He was wounded twice and received two Purple Hearts. He also received a Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service covering the timeframe 1 June 1968 to 19 April 1969, which is strange since the same news article stated he was assigned to Vietnam on 3 July 1968.
He entered the Army in February 1968 and attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina with Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Lewis, Washington.
His second wound was likely to have sent him home.
I went. I came back. Never got spit upon once. Don’t wave any disabilities I may have as a result of being there like a badge of honor.
That being said, here’s my thought:
3/4 of the earth’s surface is water…….and only 1/4 is land.
The good Lord’s intentions are very clear……….
A man’s time should be divided as:
3/4 for fishing 1/4 for work
Claw: The 1969 news article also said he was awarded the two Purple Heart for actions that occurred on 18 January 1969 and 17 March 1969. He returned to the US in November 1968 to be a Honor Guard for a Soldier who was KIA in Vietnam. The 1969 newspaper also mentioned he was returning to the US in July 1969. The reason we are mentioning this is we could not find anymore info on his Military service via newspapers from August 1969 to August 1970. We found a May 2023 news article that stated he was drafted in 1968; that he “enrolled” in “Jump School Training”; that he was assigned to 3rd BDE, 82nd Airborne Division and that he started his tour in Vietnam on 4 July 1968 and “served for two years”. The way the article is written, it may give some the impression he served in Vietnam for two years. We think he PCSed to the States after serving in Vietnam from July 1968 to July 1969…and that he ETS in February 1970. The 2023 article also stated “he was with the Battalion 505th Infantry” and “was assigned to Alpha Company 2nd Platoon.” The 2023 newspaper article stated “he earned the following during his tour of duty”: CIB, EIB, Expert Marksmanship Badge, Bronze Star, 2 Purple Hearts, ARCOM, “ARCOM V for Valor”, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and two Presidential Citations. Note there is no mention of Airborne Wings. Guess that explains he “enrolled” in Jump School. All those awards were earned in his Vietnam tour that covered July 1968 to July 1969. Again, we commend him for his service as well as what he is doing to help Disabled Veterans and the Youth. Just wished he had not told the reporter he was “spit on”. In a way, he contradicted himself when he said this to the reporter ” “They treated us real bad, us Vietnam veterans..” because his Hometown newspaper was full of Kudo stories about Military members who served Boots On The Ground in Vietnam. Thank You, Claw, for sharing your your personal… Read more »
Hmmm, interesting that the newspaper article mentioned he was awarded an EIB. Could that be a result of completing Advanced Infantry Training?
Only reason I’m asking is because my older brother was an 11B (in a somewhat earlier timeframe) and went through Infantry AIT and he didn’t get awarded the EIB until after he went through the testing with his unit in Germany.
I guess we would have to ask somebody like 3/17 Air Cav or maybe Ole Poe if that was the norm, getting the EIB awarded as a result of graduating from Infantry AIT as an 11B and after seeing action that EIB was turned into a CIB.
Claw:
We were wondering the exact same thing and was scratching our heads on that one.
Claw:
This this link out as well as the picture..
https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/191398-show-us-your-combat-infantryman-badge-certificates/
That looks like the same unit Mr. Kochanski said he was in with the same time period…
A certificate? Why? You already have the badge and the orders awarding it.
The S-4 NCO has a cousin that owns a print shop and he’ll split the money with the S-1 Actual if he gets it approved by the BC to spend X amount getting the certs printed. See, Supply Daddy knows the 1 has some gambling debts from that underground card game, the one behind the massage parlor Missus S-1 told her husband to “not go ’round no more”.
Of course the print shop isn’t an authorized vendor an Exception to Policy letter needs to come from Div HQ Compliance, but Sharlie there plays ball and only needs a cut of a couple cartons of Kool cigarettes.
And voila! I give you this abomination.
As a newly minted “4”, I’m seeing that I will need to ride herd on my NCO to prevent shenanigans such as this. As I’ve said to Green Thumb previously on an unrelated topic, this story sounds AWFULLY detailed…
Either that or make sure I get my cut.
Pappy, damn a coupla cartoons of Kools, you could be bought for a 6 pack of Yuengling…wait I’ll rephrase that…you could be HAD for a 6 pack of Yuengling.
You got me confused with some else there, Junior. Twelve pack, cold, minimum.
Might have to make it Golden Pilsner to make sure I’m looking the other way, now that I think about it.
Damnit, Pappy, Ya getting greedy, the other 6 in that 12 was gonna be MY cut.
Hey, dammit, the “Big Guy” only takes 10%!
Inflation’s a bitch, ain’t it? 
Motherfucker….
Plausible.
Back then, the EIB was generally awarded as a result of success on a series of tests conducted by the infantry unit to which the soldier was assigned.
My late brother did a walk-on for the EIB course at Campbell and almost made it through until he let it slip that he wasn’t an 11-series. He got the boot at that point. Regardless, even if he had completed the course, he wouldn’t have been eligible to wear the badge.
While in Germany I was tapped to work on administering the test while those who wanted to took the tests. There was no advance notice that I remember, certainly no additional preparatory training. I was instructed to be a bit lenient in my efforts. From what I observed, the hardest part of the test was the 12 mile march in three (?) hours. I don’t doubt that your non-Infantry brother could have passed the test.
I don’t know why he would get the boot unless it changed after your brother tried. Any MOS can participate on the EIB course and even earn the EIB, but only 11 and 18 series can wear it.
Apparently the Sergeant Major took great exception to a “pog” being in the course. This was back in ‘97 or ‘98, so I’m not sure what the reg was back then but, if Sar Major so wills, so shall it be.
“Could that be a result of completing Advanced Infantry Training?”
No. The only way is the way your brother got it. And it doesn’t get turned into a CIB, they are separate awards. I have read some references to an “Expert Combat Infantryman’s Badge” which is probably due to ignorance on the part of the writer. Perhaps some of the confusion is due to the physical similarity of the awards; the CIB is an EIB with a wreath around it. When I was in AIT the Company commander had an EIB and there was some discussion about where he could have earned it since he did not have any campaign ribbons, as we thought it was a CIB.
Commendable as to what Mr. Kochanski is trying to do. I wish him luck. He may even get a few guvs to propose doing this, but, as we all know…Once a tax or a fee is in place, they’re harder to get rid of than it is to clean up the sewer that is our current grubermint. Odd how whenever there is talk of cutting the budget, there is never any talk of cutting welfare or grubermint perks.
I don’t buy into the whole spitting thing either. I traveled, in uniform, quite a bit during the VN period without being spat upon. Did get some dirty looks in, of all places, Dulles. We were advised several times to wear civvies once we got back into CONUS. Nobody that I know that served during that time frame was spat upon either. The attitude we had was “I wish a mofo would….”
I served after Viet Nam. I did get called a baby killer when I entered a restaurant (in uniform) in a left wing city in California. I knew what to do; I never went there again. The restaurant went out of business later due to nothing I did. Karma maybe?
Thanks for sharing, Dennis-not Chevy.
Just as Claw and KoB, sounds as if you were not spit on as well.
We don’t remember ever hearing of any Vietnam Vets returning home after being Boots On The Ground being spit on.
Don’t remember them being called “Baby Killers” as well, unless the public was referring to the 1968 My Lai Massacre.
You are correct sir, I was not spit on. I did meet one guy who said he was spit on when he returned from Viet Nam. However; later that same day he admitted he’d never been to Viet Nam and had never been spit on. Apparently, he believed it happened to boots on the ground vets and he didn’t want to be left out.
As for me, when I returned from Saudi Arabia I landed at the San Francisco IAP; if anyone spoke to me, it was just a civil greeting and nothing more.
Thank You for the feedback…!
We are still chuckling on your comment:
“I did meet one guy who said he was spit on when he returned from Viet Nam. However; later that same day he admitted he’d never been to Viet Nam and had never been spit on. Apparently, he believed it happened to boots on the ground vets and he didn’t want to be left out.”
BTW…GREAT article..
“When Vietnam Veterans Felt The Love”
https://cherrieswriter.com/2015/05/16/when-vietnam-veterans-felt-the-love/
KoB:
Thank you for sharing your personal experience on the “spitting” situation.
Receiving “dirty looks?” Yes, we believe that.
We cringed when we watched Mr. Kochanski’s interview and started having some doubts about him.
Turns out, based on his hometown newspaper, he did serve Boots on The Ground during the 1968-1969 timeframe.
Looks as if he did a bit of embellishing. He made himself a “Victim” with that spitting story…and the question is always “Why?”
Bet he did not start that story until after all those Rambo/Chuck Norris/Vietnam movies came out.
The funny thing is that folks forget about “funny” movies that covered the Cold War era… “Stripes” being one of them.
We are getting burned out how Vietnam Vets are being depicted, i.e. homeless, drug addicted, growing their hair out and pulling it back in a ponytail, wearing camo clothing, etc etc..most of those types ended up never serving or most likely, got kicked out during Basic Training or were Chapted/Court Martialed/Kicked out during their time in the service because of their dirtbag behavior.
We have YET met a Vietnam POW who was/is homeless, disheveled or even made the comment “I was spit on when I retured home..”
Who can forget “Babykiller Mike Killam..”
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=63422&cpage=1#comments
https://valorguardians.com/blog/?p=83229
“He made himself a “Victim” with that spitting story…and the question is always “Why?”
Because being a victim is fashionable. Just look at how many movies featured super-victim Rambo.
The whole ‘ spat upon ‘ thing never made sense to me.
Lefties/Hippies aren’t known for being the toughest.
Why aren’t there any anecdotal or confirmed stories of ‘ Hippie beaten half to death and stuffed into garbage can by spat upon returning Marine ‘
My father (Career AF) said he didn’t see anyone get spit on when the returned from Vietnam in 68 and again in 69.
I did get some grief for a short time later in life because I share a name with a My Lai Massacre individual. No connection between his or my family at all, but some people thought maybe I was his son. Put that to bed real quick.
Mike
“because they were non-residents his disabled comrades had to pay 70 dollars for a license.”
I don’t think so.
Non-resident fees;
Annual $50
7-day $28
1-day $10
Senior citizens (70+) and 40% disabled veterans qualify for free/reduced fee
https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6091.html
As for being spit on, I was discharged in 1970 and spent the next three years on college campuses without any problems. Heck, I was the only student in my class who thought shithead Calley should be “hanged by the neck till he be dead, dead, dead.” . Of course, that was in Florida.
timactual,
Good catch.
$28 for 7 days (a long trip) is NOT $70,
blowing another hole in the story,
in this case,
a hole that Fox 56 could have easily verified (as FALSE).
Every officer I served with in RVN with whom I discussed the issue thought Calley a murderer who deserved the rope necktie.
A song about him sold one million copies. Man, the late 60s and early 70s must have been something to behold.
I don’t know about other State, but here in Alaska my status as a disabled veteran got me a hunting and fishing license that was both free and permenant. You do have to have a 50% or higher rating though.
I would like to issue an apology to Mr. Kochanski for questioning just how it came about that you were awarded the EIB (as well as a CIB) in the news story as presented.
After re-reading the story, it appears that upon DEROS back to CONUS in July 1969, you didn’t receive an on-the-spot discharge as was the norm later on, you still had six or seven months left on your enlistment that wasn’t up until February of 1970.
Since you had a subsequent state-side assignment and was probably sent to an Infantry outfit, how the awarding of your EIB could fall into a few different scenarios, some being:
Your new outfit was getting ready to do EIB testing. The word came down from higher that “We don’t care if you already have a CIB. If you’re an 11B in this outfit, you will go through the train-up/testing”. So being the good Soldier that you were, you tested out, passed, and was included in the roster of who was awarded the EIB.
Or: you were one on the testing station proctors and got your name added to the award roster.
Or: By virtue of the fact that you already had a CIB, plus a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts and two ARCOMS w/”V”, you were given a “True Blue Go” at each testing station and was subsequently awarded an EIB.
So, once again Mr. Kochanski, my bad for jumping the gun on questioning your award of an EIB. I have seen the error of my ways and will try do better next time.
“Your new outfit was getting ready to do EIB testing. The word came down from higher that “We don’t care if you already have a CIB. If you’re an 11B in this outfit, you will go through the train-up/testing”. So being the good Soldier that you were, you tested out, passed, and was included in the roster of who was awarded the EIB.”
Seen it, but I actually wanted to earn mine. Lead by example, and all that stuff…
“Or: you were one on the testing station proctors and got your name added to the award roster.”
Wouldn’t surprise me. In 2014 my highly qualified but inept SF/Ranger PSG was a Lane NCOIC but couldn’t produce his EIB certificate. No reason to disbelieve he lacked one, but he started as a Marine, went to 75th Ranger as his first Army assignment (where he may very well have earned it), then went SF after the wars kicked off before having a break in service (don’t see too many SF types earning an EIB during between 2003-2010).
“Or: By virtue of the fact that you already had a CIB, plus a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts and two ARCOMS w/”V”, you were given a “True Blue Go” at each testing station and was subsequently awarded an EIB.”
Saw this too; biased, perhaps, but a fitting show of respect for EIB “badge holders” to give to those who went through the ringer, so to speak.
Being a Vet of the recent wars, I’ll simply comment on the confusion about the EIB. As originally intended when backed by the same Lesley J. McNair that gave his name to the installation I served on twice over the course of some 6 total years, it could be awarded for satisfactory combat service. Whether it was or not, I have no idea; it has been almost entirely a proficiency badge since inception.
The CIB can and has been awarded for questionable actions. The EIB, on the other hand, is entirely subject to the graders, lane NCOICs, 1SGs that oversee it, and ultimately, the CSM that is the overall supervisor. You might get a badge protector, too bad, so sad, come back next time. You might get a relatively easy ride due to reputation, previous service, or even just likeability. For example, you can bet that a well-known, easy-going and popular SSG with a valor award will probably be treated with kids’ gloves over some surly SPC thinking his rank will impress the PFC grading him, or the new E1 who arrived just in time to start testing. On the other hand, I’ve seen SFCs who “no-go” out of testing quickly.
As a tester myself, I tried to be fair and would uphold the standard while giving Candidates every opportunity to excel. A little extra training was no problem, and a very minor mistake was sometimes missed by me or my subordinate grader. I was of the firm belief that every Infantry NCO should strive to earn this Skill Level 1 proficiency badge, but I was aware that sometimes luck of the draw precludes doing so. Grenades got a lot of people, and when I got mine Range Cards had notoriously difficult graders.
Anyway, that’s in the past. CIB in March 2003, EIB November 2004, both reside on various uniforms and in the tackle box full of spare ribbons and badges I still need to give away.