Coffey, Bob, LCpl

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
Three Marines before 1969 and one in 1969 from East High School Rochester, NY were KIA in Northern I Corp Vietnam: 1st Lt Richard Hill Kia March 31, 1967, Pfc William Devos Kia February 18, 1968, Cpl John Leone Kia April 28, 1968, and Pfc Chris Senese May 13, 1969. I thought it was the right thing to do. Five of us from the Class of 1968 went in Marines on Buddy System on August 4, 1968, in Platoon 3015 Parris Island, SC.

Bill Hoover Vietnam-0341-Mortars.
Ron Stover- Unknown.
Don Baker- 3051-Warehouse Clerk.
Joe Secor-Unknown.
Bob Coffey-Vietnam-0331-Machinegunner.

Five Marines from Plt 3015 were Kia Vietnam in 1969. RIP Brothers

Jerry Dishman Eng 3-26-1969
Robert Newman 5-11-1969
John Linn 5-11-1969
David Ford 8-20-1969
Peter Adams 8-31-1969

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?

Bob Coffey M-60 LZ Vandergriff Combat Marine Base.

I just wanted to be Grunt Marine 0311 Rifleman, but ITR sent me to 0331 Machine Gun training, which became my MOS in Vietnam. Before going home from ITR, I was promoted to Private First Class and told I was a Sole Surviving son and did not have to go to Vietnam, and I could sign a waiver or go to Vietnam, and I did what any Marine Grunt would do.

Robert Byrne( Blue) TWS C1/4 (Also, a Soul Surviving son said it's a Marine thing.)

Ammo Humper-M-16 Rifle.
A Gunner M-16 Rifle.
Gunner- 45 Handgun and M-60 Machine Gun.
M- 60 Machine Gun Team Leader

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?

LZ Vandergriff Combat Base Lt to Rt,R Dawson,B Coffey,Daniels,W Hall,C Fatute.

Operation in Quang Tri from Feb 28,1969-March 6,1969, Hill 400, Chopper Hill, and Hill 484 LZ Mack, or Mutters Ridge. (Part of Operation Purple Martin)

Operation Purple Martin (Originally Operation Massachusetts Bay) Feb 27-May 8, 1969 search and clear operation lasting 71 days on the part of that operation. The Marines stayed in the bush for over 50 consecutive days, the most prolonged period of time spent in the bush for any operation in Vietnam.

Herkimer Mt May 8-July 17 (1969) Search and Destroy. 15 Km North- Northwest of Khe Sanh.

Operation / William Glade (1969) Search and Clear operations. Sweep along RT 9 South of Dong Ha with Army unit in the flatlands between Mai Loc and Ba Long in Quang Tri Province.

Operation / Georgia Tar July 16-Sept 25, (1969) Search and Clear Operations. Northwest of Khe Sanh, Quang Tri Province.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
How can one ever forget Vietnam, at times beautiful and at times ugly? I have the best memories of Vietnam, and I have the worst memories of Vietnam.

The best: Wow, what a Team.

The worst: When that Team suffered.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
March 3, 1969, Robert Byrne (Blue), Tim Cottrill, Bob Coffey- LP from Hell Hill 400, Chopper Hill (Pictured) and the final assault on Hill 484 LZ Mack or Mutters Ridge (Pictured below)

March 5, 1969, and all the Marines, Command, Medevac Chopper Pilots, and Navy Corpsman, from Charlie 1/4 and Lima

C1/4 Hill 400 waiting to Assault Hill 484 March 5, 1969.

3/4 that participated in it and all the Marines and Navy Corpsman that didn't make it. I was proud to be part of it. On February 28, 1969, 4 Marines lost their lives going up Hill 400, then in one night, March 3, 1969, 12 Marines and two Navy Corpsman died on Hill 400. RIP. (Actual Picture was taken by LCpl John Kennedy C1/4 3rd Plt waiting on Hill 400 getting ready to assault Hill 484 on the afternoon of March 5, 1969), Lt Leone in Command 3rd Plt.

KIA Hill 400 Chopper Hill February 28, 1969.
Pfc Stanley E Ur C1/4.
L/Cpl James L Vroom-C1/4.
L/Cpl David ParkerC1/4.
Cpl-Clifton Broyer-C1/4.
RIP

KIA Hill 400 Chopper Hill Night of March 3, 1969.
Pfc Micheal E Angel-C1/4
Pfc Ronald J Shier-C1/4
Pfc Robert E Goding-C1/4
Pfc Roy E Lynn-C1/4
Pfc Leo J Mangold-C1/4
Pfc Thomas K Schaefer-C1/4
Pfc Phil J Taylor-C1/4
Pfc Ray T Shaum-C1/4
L/Cpl John Heiser C1/4
L/Cpl Austin Lane- L3/4
L/Cpl Harold E Crowder- L3/4
Sgt Joe Rodriguez-L3/4
HM-2 Donald Rudd- L3/4
HM-3 William C Ninow-L3/4

RIP

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
I read a Vietnam Book written by a Marine Officer who wrote: 'I saw so many Marine Grunts do Heroic and Courageous things and get nothing for it. I say, why do they do this? It's because that is what Marine Grunts are expected to do, and they do it

Reaching top of Hill 484 March 5, 1969.

for each other. Hills 400 and 484 Feb 28-March 6, 1969. (Sgt Harold Wilson C1/4 took the actual picture) as Marines are reaching the top of Hill 484. Eight Marines died on Hill 484 between March 01 and March 05, 1969. On Hills 400 and 484, there were 26 KIA, including 2 Navy Corpsman RIP.

KIA Hill 484
L/Cpl Ray Delgado-C1/4-March 1,1969.
Cpl Victor Jmaeff-C1/4-March 1,1969.
Pfc Patrick Menninger-C1/4-March 1,1969
L/Cpl Lawrence Brake-C1/4-March 5,1969
Cpl Charles W Thomas-C1/4-March 5,1969.
Cpl Allen Yale-C1/4-March 5, 1969.
Larry Rogers-L3/4-Eng-March 5,1969.
Glen Wingebach-L3/4-Eng-March 5,1969.

RIP

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?

Bob Coffey

They are all meaningful to me, and they all have a story to tell.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?

Marine Robert Byrne (Blue)

Robert Byrne (Blue), (Pictured) and Tim Cottrill, because we spent a night together in Vietnam for each other on the LP from Hell on Hill 400 Chopper Hill March 3rd, 1969.

Over 40-plus years later, Robert Byrne (Blue) found me online. We are still looking for our Marine Brother Tim Cottrill and Marines from 3rd Platoon Charlie 1/4. Thanks to Blue, his Wife Martha, and Bryon Moore, almost 47 3rd Platoon Marines have been found. Some Marines from the 3rd Platoon have already passed away below Rip. We have recently talked to Tim Cottrill via telephone, another brother found.

Forty-seven years later, my wife and I went to a C1/4 Reunion and met then Vietnam C1/4 Executive Lt Karl Marlantes, Lt Ken Leone, Lt Tom Noel, and many great Marines from Charlie Co. It was an experience I will never forget. SFRJ.

RIP 3rd Plt
Dave Perrine(Boy)
John Gipson(Gunny)
Mike Jacon Jr(Jake)
John Kennedy
John Salter(Big John)

LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
Lt Leone-Leader of 3rd Plt Purple Hearts Hill 400&484.

Eduardo Leija-Awarded Bronze Star&Purple Heart Hill 484 March 05,1969 3rd Plt.

John Salter- Squad Leader Catapult FireBase Passed Away Feb 2020 Rip John 3rd Plt.

Aaron Martin 0311 Purple Heart Hill 484 March 05, 1969, 3rd Plt.

David Perrine 0331 Purple Heart Hill 400 March 01, 1969, 3rd Plt. Passed away. RIP, Dave Boy.

Buddy Linquist 0331 Purple Heart Hill 400 March 01,1969 3rd Plt.

John Kennedy-Purple Heart Hill 484 March 05,1969 3rd Plt. Passed Away, RIP John.

Robert Byrne 2 Purple Hearts Hill 484 March 05,1969 3rd Plt.

( LP March 03, 1969, Hill 400 Robert Byrne, Tim Cottrill, Bob Coffey)

Tim Cottrill 0311 Purple Heart Hill 484 March 05, 1969, 3rd Plt.

Charlie Fatute 0311, a Great Marine and friend of SF Charlie.

John Gibson 0311 was a funny guy and a Great Marine. Passed away. RIP, Little John.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?

CH-46 Shot down Hill 484 March 5, 1969.

Charlie Fatute and I jumped off a ramp of CH-46 Marine Medevac Chopper on March 5, on Hill 484, while it was only on the ground for seconds, and it took off so fast Charlie and I were 8 to 10 ft in the air. We jumped off the ramp, and we didn't break anything. Some Marines got stuck on the Chopper. Surely was not funny at the time, but it makes me laugh now. (Picture of CH-46 that Crash-landed on Hill 484 on March 05, 1969, during the final assault. (Actual picture was taken by L/Cpl John Kennedy 3rd Plt).

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
Security Eastman Kodak Co Rochester New York.
Law Enforcement Monroe County Sheriff Rochester New York.
Security MGM Grand Casino Las Vegas, Nev.
Retired

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Disabled American Veterans.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Marines taught me to be disciplined in life and never give up on anything.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?

3rd Plt C1/4 June 1969 Patrol off Catapult Firebase.

If involved in combat, do what you do for the guys next to you. If not, stay disciplined and don't give up on anything. You have joined a unique Brotherhood once you become a Marine, and no one can ever take it away from you.

Semper Fi

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

Left-LT Karl Marlantes,GeneralReynolds,Jack Maclean. Parris Island SC March 2013.

Thanks to the sacrifice and dedication of Marines like Lt Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn, What it is like to go to War, and Cpl Jack Mclean Loon, a Marine Story, and so many others, we will never forget. (Charlie 1/4, Lima 3/4, and all the Services 1968,1969). They all make one Hell of a US Team.

KC 3.15.23 *