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Koehler became interested in Coast Guard at early age

This document was published online on Thursday, December 04, 2008

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This is Coast Guard Lt. Zach Koehler's second tour of duty in Alaska.

The former Cody resident, now a helicopter pilot, has been stationed at Air Station Kodiak for three years.

“It can be treacherous dealing with bad weather and high winds with near zero visibility,” he said. “If you don't train and keep focused it can be treacherous, but on a clear day there's no more spectacular view. It's incredibly gorgeous up here.”

He and his wife Beth have two children, Gabriel, 18-months-old, who was adopted from Guatemala, and year-old Donavyn.

Koehler, 31, said a helicopter in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, was once knocked out of the air by a wave while trying to rescue people in the water.

“The only H-60 helicopter to ever crash was in Alaska due to poor visibility,” he said. “Tough weather makes it dangerous to fly up here.”

Koehler became interested in his career at an early age. His father Alan was involved in Park County Search and Rescue for several years and sometimes took his son on calls.

“I loved doing that,” he said. “It was always interesting for me.”

When he was young, Cobra and Blackhawk helicopters flew into Cody and Koehler was enthralled.

“It was the coolest thing to me,” he said. “When they flew over I thought, ‘That's what I want to do.'

“The Coast Guard combines search and rescue with helicopter flying,” he added. “That's a no-brainer.”

After graduating from CHS, Koehler attended the Coast Guard Academy. He spent two years on the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley in Alaska before attending Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Fla., and then returning to Alaska.

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