12/07/2024
Today we observe Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. For many local folks it's easy to think that Pearl Harbor is more of a distant but significant National tragedy that has little to do with our specific community. In reality, Talihina was directly connected to the events of Pearl Harbor, not just through the many servicemen and local community members that served in the Second World War, but also by the loss of Michael "Martin" McKosky. Martin was a Seaman First Class who was stationed on the USS Arizona and was lost within the first few minutes of the attack.
Today, our post is going to focus on the service and life of Martin McKosky. This will be a bit of an update from our post about him from three years ago, and even includes a photo that we have recently identified of him from before he joined the service.
Michael “Martin” McKosky was born in Talihina on June 12, 1922 to Michael and Ethel McKosky. He participated in high school basketball and performed in the “Three Days Grace” play that was put on by Talihina School in 1939 during his senior year. He was a letterman in both football and basketball and was also a part of the Talihina Legion Junior Baseball Club. He was a part of the Talihina High School Student Council where he was Pep Leader for the Senior Class.
After Highschool, Martin enlisted in the Navy at Dallas, Texas. He was stationed aboard the USS Arizona on January 25th, 1941. Later that year, at 19 years old, Martin McKosky gave his life in service of his country.
At 7:48am on Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor, killing 2,403 Americans and injuring 1,178 others.
Eighteen ships were sunk or run aground, including five battleships. 1,177 of those sailors were from Martin's own ship, the USS Arizona which sank in a total of nine minutes after taking a fatal blow to forward ammunition storage.
A significant detail is that with his ranking, McKosky would have been stationed on the ship and part of the initial response to the attacks until the loss of the forward ammunition storage. According to reports in 1941, he was part of an Anti-Aircraft Gun Crew. Newspapers at the time reported that he was last seen on the ship during the first few minutes of the attack.
Martin was declared missing in action on December the 7th though it would be almost nine years later that he was laid to rest in Talihina. Originally interred at Nuuanu Cemetery in Oahu as an unknown soldier, the family held services in honor of his loss. Over 900 sailors are permanently interred in the USS Arizona to this day, with many survivors of the ship choosing to have their ashes committed to the memorial site.
Although he was not able to be laid to rest, the community held services and in 1942, he was honored at the Talihina Annual Football Banquet with a moment of silence for those who had passed during the war. In May of 1942, the United Automobile Workers Union bought 50 million dollars of War Bonds, specifically in Martin's honor. This was advertised as enough to replace the entire USS Arizona. Martins father, Mike, was a member of the Union. In 1945, his name was enshrined along with other service members in a memorial within "The Tiger" which was the name of the school yearbook when it was first published, at that time he was still missing.
In September of 1949, his mother was notified that his remains were identified and on the 10th of January 1950, Martin McKosky was laid to rest with full military honors. His services were conducted in the First Methodist Church and he is laid to rest in the Old Talihina Cemetery.
His honors and medals were Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Pearl Harbor Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Ribbon, and World War II Victory Medal.
He is also directly honored at the Leflore County Museum and also the USS Arizona Memorial.
Martin would be the first of at least 28 Kiamichi Valley casualties in World War Two. We salute his honor, courage and sacrifice today along with so many others who gave their lives on December 7th, 1941.
A full detailed report on his life and service can be found by searching the database on the "Together We Served" Organization.
First Photo from Left to Right shows:
Maxey Camp, Paul Fox, Elmer Brown, Robert Earl Holt, Martin McKosky, and Lillian Newman.
