Posted on 04/22/2007 7:28:17 AM PDT by nuconvert
Exclusive: Meet Our Decorated Heroes: God Bless Them! Col James H. Coffman, Jr.
Author: The Family Security Foundation, Inc.
Source: DoD
Date: April 20, 2007
This story demonstrates once more the unselfish service to America of our stupendous, gallant military. Army Colonel James H. Coffman, Jr. was honored for his courageous actions while defending a police station in Mosul, Iraq. Colonel Coffman, FSM salutes you and your fellow warriors.
Meet Our Decorated Heroes: God Bless Them! Col James H. Coffman, Jr.
Army Colonel James H. Coffman, Jr. of Massachusetts was a senior advisor to Iraqi Special Police commandos on Nov. 14, 2004, when he joined a commando quick reaction force (QRF) that was sent to help a platoon under attack in a police station in Mosul, Iraq. The terrorists hit the QRF with heavy fire upon arrival, killing or seriously injuring all but one of the commando officers.
Coffman rallied the remaining forces to continue the fight, and radioed for more help. When a round shattered his shooting hand and damaged his rifle, Coffman bandaged up his hand and continued fighting with rifles he collected from the casualties piling up around him.
Coffman and his team defended the station for four hours before help arrived. Coffman led the relief forces to his position and continued to fight, refusing medical evacuation until the battle was over. Once the threat was eliminated, 25 terrorists were killed and dozens were injured.
In the months he’s had to reflect on the battle, Coffman said his focus continues to be on the courage and exemplary performance of the Iraqi commandos he fought with.
“I’m very proud of them, and more importantly, they’re proud of themselves,” Coffman said. “The next day, they were back out on patrol – after suffering 30 to 50 percent casualties. That’s pretty amazing. That says something about their resilience and their ability to maintain morale. They certainly mourned their losses, but they got back into the fight right away. I don’t think you can ask much more of people than that.”
Coffman had to undergo extensive surgery to repair his badly damaged hand, but he doesn’t see himself as a big hero; - just a “soldier who did what he had to do to keep himself and his men alive.” He believes there are plenty of heroic deeds going on in Iraq – particularly in the military and special police training teams – that go unrecognized.
“There are equal acts out there. This one just got written up,” Coffman said. “I would like to see more people get written up.”
In August of 2005, General George Casey personally pinned the nation’s second highest award medal on the uniformed body armor of Colonel Coffman who was proudly surrounded by his American and Iraqi commando comrades.
During the ceremony, General Casey said, “ It is humbling to me to be in the presence of heroes,” noting Coffman’s extraordinary heroism in the battle that had killed 12 Iraqi enemy insurgents and wounded 24 of them. “Such exemplary conduct is a great example to newly trained Iraqi commandos and to all American soldiers and warriors,” he added.
For his actions and leadership, Coffman received the Distinguished Service Cross on Aug. 24, 2005. FSM is so proud of all of you! Thank you for keeping America safe and God BlessYou!
- The Editors and Staff at FamilySecurityMatters.org
Great Read
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