Steve Kothlow: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to President Johnson’s funeral, to performing for the Queen of England
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
QUILT OF VALOR — Two Colfax residents who are members of the Northwoods Quilts of Valor, Diane Goers (on left) and Nancy Hainstock, presented a quilt to Steve Kothlow of Menomonie earlier in January. Kothlow served in the United States Marines from 1971 to 1973. While he was finishing his training, Kothlow was expecting to be deployed to Vietnam but was then assigned to U.S. Marines Silent Guard Duty.
—photo submitted
By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — When Steve Kothlow enlisted in the United States Marines in 1971, he had no idea of the experiences that awaited him.
Kothlow, who earned the rank of Lance Corporal, went into the Marines in October of 1971 and was honorably discharged in October of 1973.
To honor Kothlow’s military service, the Northwoods Quilts of Valor presented a quilt to Kothlow at his home south of Menomonie on 530th Avenue earlier this month.
Colfax residents Nancy Hainstock and Diane Goers of the Northwoods Quilts of Valor presented the quilt.
Kothlow enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in March of 1971 under the delayed entry program, according to the biography he submitted to the Northwoods QOV.
He started boot camp on October 5, 1971, at the Marine Corps Recruit Center in San Diego, California.
After basic training, Kothlow was sent to San Onofre Base at Camp Pendleton near Oceanside, California, for three months of training in preparation to deploy with his platoon to Vietnam.
“With one week of training to go, I was called on by the commanding officer after being singled out and was informed of orders to Marine Barracks 8th & I Street, Washington, D.C.,” he wrote.
Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., also known as the “8th & I,” is the oldest active post in the United States Marine Corps., according to www.barracks.marines.mil.
The Marine post in Washington, D.C., was founded by President Thomas Jefferson and Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows in 1801. Burrows was the second commandant of the Marine Corps.
Kothlow goes on to say that upon his arrival in March of 1972, he was originally assigned to the 1st platoon guard company.
Drill team
After intensive training, Kothlow was again singled out in September of 1972 and chosen to be a member of the 24-man Marine Corps Silent Drill Team, the “elite showpiece of the USMC.”
The duties of the drill team are extensive, Kothlow said.
Over the next several months, he took part in the inauguration of President Richard Nixon, guarded the president’s room while he was at Bethesda Naval Hospital, and was selected to stand guard over President Lyndon Johnson in the rotunda of the United States Capital.
Former President Lyndon B. Johnson died January 22, 1973, at the age of 64.
Kothlow also took part in numerous ceremonies at the White House, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, and numerous funerals for dignitaries at Arlington Cemetery.
The Tomb of the Unknown soldier is a symbolic grave representing all of those killed in war whose remains have not been found or identified. The Tomb started out with one unknown soldier from World War I, but today, the tomb contains three unidentified service members, according to the United States Department of Defense.
Kothlow also traveled extensively to many states to perform drills at military installations, football stadium halftime shows and basketball auditoriums.
He traveled to London, England, to perform for the Queen and her family, and he also performed drill in the Cotton Bowl at Dallas, Texas, for returning POWs flown out of Hanoi.
In addition, Kothlow participated in multiple wreath-laying ceremonies at the White House and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with President Nixon presiding as dignitaries from around the world and foreign leaders paid a visit to the United States.
“It was truly the dream duty of a lifetime. I was honorably discharged on October 4, 1973, as Corporal,” Kothlow wrote.
“Death Watch”
Kothlow still has a newspaper clipping of a letter he had written that was published in the Dunn County News.
The letter was dated Thursday, January 25, 1973, and had been received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kothlow of Route 3, Menomonie.
In his letter, Kothlow wrote:
“I’ve done and seen a lot of things since I’ve been here in Washington but standing death watch last night in the rotunda of the Capitol over President Johnson’s casket had to be the most exciting thing I’ve ever done.
“I just finished watching the funeral services for Lyndon Johnson in Austin, Tex. Billy Graham really had a good sermon, don’t you think? That was Cpl. Heard and L-Cpl. Gonzales holding the flag over the casket that I stood watch over all night last night.
“We got to the Capital about noon yesterday and then we went to the room where we stayed last night and got our uniforms ready. (We stayed in a room that was about 50 feet from the rotunda.) We then waited until the services began in the rotunda.
“Every congressman and senate member was there, I believe. I also saw President Nixon, Mrs. Johnson, and Carl Albert, Speaker of the House. Wreaths were laid and services were held and then at about 4:30, it was opened to the public.
“At 3:30 the first death watch was posted. Sgt. Brown was the first watch so you probably saw him on TV. I was on the night relief so I started at 7 last night and was on a half hour and off two hours all night long.
“A half hour doesn’t sound long, but try standing at attention for 30 minutes without moving. It isn’t easy, believe me. They had TV camera lights on up until about midnight last night, and they were very bright and hot. I’ve never seen so many cameras in my life.
“People filed by all night long at the rate of about 4,000 an hour. I’m still seeing spots in my eyes today from all the flash bulbs going off in my face. I must have had my picture taken a million times.
“At about 9:30 last night, one of Johnson’s daughters and her husband came in to view the casket. I’m not sure which daughter it was.
“The guard on the casket was changed every 30 minutes so the people packed the rotunda to see the guard changed. They really found it impressive. We practiced … to get it right. It looked really good, I think. The people were impressed anyway.
“I didn’t get any sleep at all last night because after my watch was over and I got my blues ready to go again, it was time to go back out there again.
“When it was time for my last watch this morning, I was so tired, I could hardly see. My legs ached from standing so long in one place. I’m glad it is over, but I wouldn’t have given up the experience for anything. I’d do it again, any day.
“When I was on watch, I stood at the head of the casket, about three feet from it, and right next to the presidential flag The casket was roped off so the people walked around a circle to view it. Well, it’s all over now, but it was quite an experience.”
Guard duty
The newspaper clipping goes on to say, “Kothlow is assigned to the U.S. Marines Silent Guard Duty, a unit composed of 22 outstanding Marines. Prior to Christmas, the unit performed for the British Royal Marines in London.”
The newspaper clipping ends with a comment from Kothlow’s commanding officer, “All Guard Company Marines join me in sharing the pride that you must feel for Steve’s accomplishments. I feel very fortunate indeed to have a Marine of his caliber as a member of the command. He is most certainly one of the few good men who have the honor to call themselves ‘Marines.’”
