Major General Joseph Koler, Jr.

Major General Joseph Koler, Jr., USMC (Ret.) passed away on 1 January, 2016, at age 90. He was a man of character, befitting of his generation. General Joe Koler was born in Tacoma, Washington to working class parents. He grew up during the Depression and joined the Marines in 1943, starting a long and distinguished career.

Joe was commissioned second lieutenant in 1946 and assigned to the 1st Marines in Tientsin, China, as an infantry platoon leader. Joe had some real adventures in China and to this day could order his Chinese food in Chinese.

Joe deployed to Korea in 1950 with the 1st Marine...