Harold M. Koch
Encyclopedia
Harold M. Koch was a Roman Catholic priest from Chicago
who defected to the Soviet Union
in 1966. His defection, which was included in a soviet propaganda broadcast, was in protest to the Vietnam war
. However he decided to return to the United States three months later saying he wanted to get married. He did, to a Jeanette Neager. While in the USSR he was provided an apartment in Moscow
.
From 1958 to 1963 he served the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
, leaving when pushed out because of psychiatric problems.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
who defected to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1966. His defection, which was included in a soviet propaganda broadcast, was in protest to the Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. However he decided to return to the United States three months later saying he wanted to get married. He did, to a Jeanette Neager. While in the USSR he was provided an apartment in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
From 1958 to 1963 he served the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago was established as a diocese in 1843 and as an Archdiocese in 1880. It serves more than 2.3 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties in Northeastern Illinois, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese is divided into six vicariates and 31 deaneries...
, leaving when pushed out because of psychiatric problems.