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Hal Koster

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Hal spent 25 months in Vietnam with the 174th Assault Helicopter Company as a Gunship Crew Chief. While in Vietnam, Hal was awarded the Air Medal, Air Medal with “V,” and various campaign/service ribbons. After returning from Vietnam in June of 1969, he attended computer technical school and had a 30 year career in the computer business. In 1997, he bought an interest in Fran O’Brien’s Steak House and worked there until the lease was lost in May 2006. In October 2003, Hal started providing dinners for the newly wounded service members recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) every Friday night.

In 2005, he started The Aleethia Foundation to provide a tax deductible way for the individuals and companies wanting to contribute financially to the “Friday Night Dinners.” When Fran O’Brien’s closed, the dinners started moving around town to different restaurants. Hal is responsible for finding the restaurants, raising the money and keeping the books as well as giving the grants to the troops when needed.

The Aleethia Foundation supports the newly wounded service members at WRAMC and NNMC with nights out and small grants. Hal’s work with The Aleethia Foundation has earned him many awards from various groups including letters of appreciation from President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace.

  1. Secretary of the Army Public Servant Award – October 2008
  2. Medal of Honor Society – Above and Beyond Citizen of Washington, DC – January 2008
  3. VFW – James Van Zandt Citizenship Award – August 2007
  4. Nobles and Knaves – December 23, 2007
  5. American Legion Citizenship Award – June 2006
  6. Honorary Kentucky Colonel – 2006
  7. American Postal Workers Union National Human Relations Director’s Award – August 2006
  8. Letters from President, Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff – October 2005
  9. Special History of the Flag book in a beautiful wooden display case given by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs – October 2005

Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award – Oct 2004

Reunion Celebration
Friday night dinners make troops feel truly at home more

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