1979 Taft alum Paul Kosiek shared the story of his father who saved thousands.
Albert Kosiek freed 40,000 people from concentration camps, Gusen and Mauthausen. Albert is primarily known in Austria and Paul called himself and his wife, “The Michael Jordan of Austria,” because of their popularity there.
He said that people would ask for the autograph of him and his wife in Austria. Recently, they were granted a free trip to Austria as an act of honoring them, except for the plane ride. He stated that he’ll appear on “60 Minutes” for an interview soon.
Kosiek described what it was like to have a father who’s seen as a hero by so many people. He said, “It feels like a million dollars.” Kosiek said that his father fighting in the military during World War Two and liberating people from concentration camps increased his pride in being American.
Although he never learned much about World War Two history in school, he still learned about it outside of school. He had letters that were for his father from people who were in concentration camps. He also possessed pictures of people who suffered in the concentration camps.
Although his father was looked up to as a hero during World War Two, Kosiek decided not to enlist in the military. Kosiek said that he went to trade school at Triton College because he wanted to become a welder.
Growing up, Kosiek’s father was very protective of him. Despite fighting for the Allies during World War Two, his father didn’t want him to enlist in the military. Kosiek said, “My father didn’t encourage me to get into the army, he discouraged me.” This was because his father didn’t want him to witness the violence that he did during World War Two.
Kosiek has been married to his wife for 48 years. He said they went to Catholic grammar school together and they started dating in high school. They had an on and off relationship. They also went to the Taft prom together. They would continually break up and get back together but they eventually worked it out and got married.
Kosiek focuses on the positives that his father has done instead of the harsh reality that he was in. Kosiek’s face lights up whenever he talks about the good his father has done. He is a proud son, a man of honor, and an informer of the history of the Holocaust.
