Harold M. Koch (born 1932) was an American Roman Catholic priest from Chicago who defected to the Soviet Union in 1966."Ex-US-Priest Explains Defection on Russ TV". The Milwaukee Journal, 9/13/1966. His defection, which was included in a Soviet propaganda broadcast,"Russian People Hear Former US. Priest". Playground Daily News, 9/14/1966. was in protest to the Vietnam War."USSR: American Ex-Priest who has Sought Asylum in Soviet Union Says Move was Protest Against Vietnam War". However he decided to return to the United States three months later saying he wanted to get married."Ex-U.S. Priest Ends Defection to Russia". Eugene Register-Guard, 12/19/1966. He did, to Jeanette Neager."Former Priest Marries". Watertown Daily Times, 7/8/1967. While in the Soviet Union he was provided an apartment in Moscow."Priest Defector Returning Home". Sarasota Journal, 12/19/1966.
From 1958 to 1963 he served the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, leaving when pushed out because of psychiatric problems."Defector Said Ex-Priest". St. Petersburg Times, 9/13/1966.
References
External links Harold Koch on Defecting to Russia - HD Defector Assails Johnson Policies