Folk Figure/Politician. A graduate of Holland Christian High School and Calvin College, he later served as a Captain in the Army Air Corps during World War II. As a lead bombardier Kok, completed 67 bombing missions over Italy and Southern France, earning him the Purple Heart Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, and a Silver Star Medal. He was member of the 488th Bomb Squad of the 340th Bomb Group, which was later the basis for the novel, "Catch-22" written in 1961 by Joseph Heller, who had piloted one of the B-25's under Kok's command. The 1968 movie based on the book was depicted by Kok's decision to refuse to bomb a village in Northern Italy. After the war he tried his luck at several different jobs, and in 1965 he was elected as a Member to the Michigan State House of Representatives, serving the 91st and 93rd Districts until 1978. He was later appointed to the Michigan Council On Aging, by the Michigan Governor.
Folk Figure/Politician. A graduate of Holland Christian High School and Calvin College, he later served as a Captain in the Army Air Corps during World War II. As a lead bombardier Kok, completed 67 bombing missions over Italy and Southern France, earning him the Purple Heart Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, and a Silver Star Medal. He was member of the 488th Bomb Squad of the 340th Bomb Group, which was later the basis for the novel, "Catch-22" written in 1961 by Joseph Heller, who had piloted one of the B-25's under Kok's command. The 1968 movie based on the book was depicted by Kok's decision to refuse to bomb a village in Northern Italy. After the war he tried his luck at several different jobs, and in 1965 he was elected as a Member to the Michigan State House of Representatives, serving the 91st and 93rd Districts until 1978. He was later appointed to the Michigan Council On Aging, by the Michigan Governor.
Family Members
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
