I would like to take a minute and express my thanks to a wonderful person named Linda Kochmar. Linda is currently in our State House of Representatives and is up for re-election now… I must say, Linda is always available and there when needed.

I have a very good friend that, a couple years ago, was venturing off on a motorcycle ride around the rim of the United States to benefit cancer research. The night before he left, I called Linda and asked if she’d mind showing up at his send-off to give him a little thanks for what he was doing. Linda was there, bright and early, to help with the send-off. It helped to encourage him very much.

But the biggest thing she’s done is extend my roommate’s father’s life. My roommate’s father was a war hero, earning both the Purple Heart and Silver Star in WWII. He returned for the Korean War, where he was captured and held as a prisoner of war for almost three years. When I found that he didn’t receive his Korean War medal and that there was a newer medal just for POWs, I applied for both those medals. The paperwork was sent in but returned to me because the Army said they couldn’t find proof enough that he was a POW (even though I had paperwork proving it, they said a huge fire had destroyed their paperwork). I told Linda Kochmar this story and gave her all the information; within a month we received a call saying the Army had his medals and wished to do a “formal” presentation of them.

At that time, my roommate’s father was very ill. In fact, we told the Army they’d better do their ceremony quickly because we were concerned he might not live much longer.

Let me tell you, during that presentation (which was awesome) it was also discovered that my roommate’s father did not receive his Silver Star due to an Army mix-up. The commander of the base read his story of the Silver Star to the roomful of officers, and they also presented his Silver Star that same day. That man, my roommate’s father, was so proud that day. His health improved in all the days to follow, and in fact he’s still doing well at almost 91 years old.

We’re losing those veterans every day, so this act by Linda Kochmar is so appreciated that I cannot say enough. Linda cares for everyone and helps where she can.

I might also mention it didn’t matter that my roommates father is a Democrat and Linda is a Republican. She was just there to help.

So a “huge thank you!” to Linda Kochmar for all the things she’s done for myself and others in our great state.

I am including a YouTube link of the medal presentation if you’d like. The Silver Star presentation that explains what he did is amazing.

Ken Donner, Federal Way