Donald Coffey in Vietnam in 1970.
Wanda Coffey Peters of De Soto submitted a photo of her brother, Donald E. Coffey Jr., who served two years with the Army in Vietnam in 1968-1970. He received three Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars. In one of the Bronze Star citations, the commanding officer recounts Spec. 4 Coffey’s exemplary service as a rifleman during a patrol in Phuoc Long Province in February 1970.
“When his unit became engaged with an aggressive enemy force, he exposed himself to the hostile fire as he moved forward to the point of heaviest contact and began placing a heavy volume of suppressive fire on the enemy positions,” the citation reads. “He then administered emergency treatment to the wounded and assisted in evacuating them to safety, although wounded himself. His personal bravery and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.”
