Jaxon Kohler gets memorable moment at Michigan State basketball senior night
· Yahoo Sports
EAST LANSING – Senior day for Jaxon Kohler will be a lifetime memory for his family.
Kohler’s 102-year-old great-grandfather, Earl Jay “Chuck” Kohler, was the honored veteran prior to No. 8 Michigan State basketball’s game with Rutgers on Thursday, March 5.
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“Chuck” Kohler – who was escorted to midcourt by Jaxon’s father, Jeff, and grandfather, Dave – is one of 12 remaining survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, that sparked American involvement in World War II.
He was 17 years old and on security watch that day when the first bombs fell; he shot at Japanese fighters after ignoring an order to take cover. Kohler did his aviation metalsmith training in Detroit and San Diego before boarding the USS Lexington for Hawaii.
After returning stateside, he returned to action in the Pacific Theater and served on the USS St. Paul before being honorably discharged. He married his wife, Judy, in 1954.
Jaxon Kohler, an MSU senior forward, is one of 21 great-grandchildren for Chuck, who had four children and 16 grandchildren. Chuck was escorted to midcourt at Breslin Center for the pregame ceremony to thunderous applause.
After the national anthem, Jaxon was the first to greet his great-grandfather with a big hug, followed by the rest of his MSU teammates thanking him for his service.
Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jaxon Kohler, family gets tribute at Michigan State senior night