When Jerry Koestner graduated from Russellville High School, a military career was not in his personal forecast. And though the aspiring teacher was beginning his journey to someday become a coach, little did he realize that his college experience would later lead to an extensive military career.
Enrolling at Lincoln University after his high school graduation in 1971, Koestner, 60, Lohman, notes that the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program was, at that time, a requirement the first two years of college.
But as he grew closer to his graduation date, the former student explained, "My draft number was low, and I felt that if I was going to go to Vietnam, I'd remain in the ROTC program and go as an officer."
By the time he graduated in December 1975, the Vietnam War had all but wound to an end, and he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Armed with a bachelor's degree in physical education, the reservist was hired as a physical education teacher with the school district in Concordia - a job that was put on hold for military training.
"I traveled to Fort Sill, Okla., for OBC (Officers Basic Course,)" Koestner said. "It was the end of Vietnam and the Army was drawing down its size," he added, "but I was offered a regular Army commission three times while in training."
Declining the offer, Koestner finished the training and immediately began his civilian career at Concordia teaching social studies, while also spending the next five years fulfilling his reserve obligation in the Inactive Ready Reserve (IRR).
In 1980, he moved to Russellville after accepting a coaching/teaching position at Eugene, but was soon activated out of the IRR following the 1980 presidential election.
"When Reagan got in office, a lot of us IRR officers were activated as part of the buildup of the military," Koestner said. "I was assigned to a field artillery unit in Jefferson City."
For the next several years, he remained with the Reserves in a part-time status and traveled between the battery in Jefferson City and their headquarters in Springfield, eventually becoming the battery commander.
In the late 1980s, he received a promotion to major and transferred to the 5039th USAR School in Independence, becoming an instructor and teaching an advanced course for artillery officers. He was later transferred to a staff position with the school.
His civilian career moved forward in 1987 when he was hired as a P.E. coach and teacher at Russellville. A few years later, his military career entered its final stage when, in 1995, he transferred to Topeka, Kan., spending the next seven years with the 6th Brigade, 95th Division as the officer in charge of education.
Koestner made the decision to retire from the reserves in 2003 at the rank of lieutenant colonel, having served 28 years in the military. Four years later, he retired from Russellville School District as the middle school principal.
Still active in education, Koestner said, "I teach health and physical education for three hours a day (at Russellville) and am an adjunct professor at William Woods."
The proud father of four children, Koestner lives in Lohman with his wife Laurie, and believes many of the experiences of his military career have benefitted him in his career as both a teacher and coach.
"The rigors and discipline you experience in the military really helped me to become a better teacher," he said. "You really have a level of accountability as a military instructor ... there was no leeway. You did your job or you were taken out of the pipeline," he said.
Though he acknowledges the trajectory of his career never carried him into direct combat since his service began after Vietnam and ended prior to country's active post-9/11 involvement, the veteran has been told of the impact he has had in the lives of the war fighters.
"Having missed the Vietnam War and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, I at one time though that this was the only missing point of my military career - the one card that I didn't get punched," he said.
"But then I was reminded by the people that I'd worked with (in the Reserve) about all of those soldiers that I had trained over the years while serving as an instructor ... all of those people that I prepared for potential combat. They told me that I had my ticket punched by helping those soldiers."
With emphasis, he added: "I've always had pride of my country. It was a good career ... and I have no regrets."
Jeremy P. Ämick writes on behalf of the Silver Star Families of America.