We Honor and Remember:
1st Sgt Christopher D. Coffin
Hometown: Somerville, NJ. Age: 51 years old. Died: July 1, 2003 in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. Birth: Jul. 8, 1951, Somerville, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA. Army 1st Sgt. Coffin was assigned to the 352nd Civil Affairs Battalion, Riverdale, Maryland. Chris' Army reserve unit was a civil-affairs team, the ones who hand out medicine and rebuild schools. He died on Highway 8 when his vehicle was forced into a deep pit by insurgents and where a dying Coffin was swarmed by Iraqis who stole his wedding ring. Chris spent most of his childhood in New Jersey. He graduated from Somerville High School in New Jersey in 1969 and graduated from Ryder College in 1981 with a degree in history. Chris joined the Army on June 29, 1971, and was first trained as a tank crew member. He was then assigned to HHC, 2nd Battalion, 33rd Armored Regiment in Europe, and served on active duty for three years before joining the Army Reserve on August 21, 1974. Many years, and many promotions later, he joined the 352nd Civil Affairs Command on Aug. 1, 2002. Chris was an avid skier and spent much of his vacation time with his wife Betsy skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In his civilian work, he had been a police officer for many years. In 1998, he transferred to the Department of Defense as a Federal police officer, and had worked at several U.S. military installations, including the Pentagon and Fort Detrick, Md. He worked for the Department of Defense as a policeman at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. In his Army work, Coffin is best remembered for his stern, but fair, attitude and his constant concern for the well-being of his company of soldiers and officers. He had planned to retire from the Army Reserves but that plan was put on hold because of the war. Chris is survived by his wife Betsy. |
Civil Affairs Unit Honors Fallen First Sergeant By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Conrad College / 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 8, 2003
A memorial service for 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin, first sergeant of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, was held in Baghdad, Iraq, on July 3.
Coffin was killed July 1 in Iraq when the convoy in which he was riding was attacked on a main supply route south of Baghdad.
Over a hundred soldiers and officers, including two generals, crowded into a room to attend the memorial service, which was held in the 352nd headquarters building, where Coffin had worked as a leader of his company. Many other soldiers stood in the hallways outside of the room, unable to get into the crowed room. The soldiers were carrying their weapons and ammunition, as always in Iraq.
Two Army chaplains led the traditional, military memorial service, which included special music and testimonials by soldiers and officers who had worked with Coffin. The company of soldiers sang, “Amazing Grace,” while a chaplain played the music on an electronic keyboard. There was not one dry eye in the room.
One sergeant told how, some years ago, he had been hurt in an accident and was taken to the hospital. Speaking with a breaking voice, the sergeant said he would never forget that 1st Sgt. Coffin came and sat by him all night, ensuring that everything would be all right.
An officer testified, in a trembling voice, how Coffin had always been concerned for the welfare of his soldiers. He said Coffin taught every soldier and officer that he worked with his first rule of the Army: “Mission first, but take care of your soldiers -- always.”
In the traditional military memorial service, Coffin’s combat boots, M-16 rifle and helmet were on display at the front of the room, along with two framed photographs of Coffin.
Suddenly, all those present were called to attention and ordered to “present arms” (salute) by the officer in charge. Then 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin’s name was called out loud and clear, three times, as if he were being summoned to the front of the formation. Then the officer in charge said, “1st Sgt. Coffin has met his last formation.”
The 352nd Civil Affairs Command, an Army Reserve unit, is based in Riverdale, Md., in the Washington, D.C. area, but Coffin lived in Kennebunk, Maine.
Coffin was born July 8, 1951, and spent most of his childhood in New Jersey. He graduated from Somerville High School in New Jersey in 1969. He graduated from Ryder College in 1981 with a degree in history.
Coffin joined the Army on June 29, 1971, and was first trained as a tank crew member. He was then assigned to HHC, 2nd Battalion, 33rd Armored Regiment in Europe, and served on active duty for three years before joining the Army Reserve on August 21, 1974. Many years, and many promotions later, he joined the 352nd Civil Affairs Command on Aug. 1, 2002.
A memorial service for 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin, first sergeant of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command, was held in Baghdad, Iraq, on July 3.
Coffin was killed July 1 in Iraq when the convoy in which he was riding was attacked on a main supply route south of Baghdad.
Over a hundred soldiers and officers, including two generals, crowded into a room to attend the memorial service, which was held in the 352nd headquarters building, where Coffin had worked as a leader of his company. Many other soldiers stood in the hallways outside of the room, unable to get into the crowed room. The soldiers were carrying their weapons and ammunition, as always in Iraq.
Two Army chaplains led the traditional, military memorial service, which included special music and testimonials by soldiers and officers who had worked with Coffin. The company of soldiers sang, “Amazing Grace,” while a chaplain played the music on an electronic keyboard. There was not one dry eye in the room.
One sergeant told how, some years ago, he had been hurt in an accident and was taken to the hospital. Speaking with a breaking voice, the sergeant said he would never forget that 1st Sgt. Coffin came and sat by him all night, ensuring that everything would be all right.
An officer testified, in a trembling voice, how Coffin had always been concerned for the welfare of his soldiers. He said Coffin taught every soldier and officer that he worked with his first rule of the Army: “Mission first, but take care of your soldiers -- always.”
In the traditional military memorial service, Coffin’s combat boots, M-16 rifle and helmet were on display at the front of the room, along with two framed photographs of Coffin.
Suddenly, all those present were called to attention and ordered to “present arms” (salute) by the officer in charge. Then 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin’s name was called out loud and clear, three times, as if he were being summoned to the front of the formation. Then the officer in charge said, “1st Sgt. Coffin has met his last formation.”
The 352nd Civil Affairs Command, an Army Reserve unit, is based in Riverdale, Md., in the Washington, D.C. area, but Coffin lived in Kennebunk, Maine.
Coffin was born July 8, 1951, and spent most of his childhood in New Jersey. He graduated from Somerville High School in New Jersey in 1969. He graduated from Ryder College in 1981 with a degree in history.
Coffin joined the Army on June 29, 1971, and was first trained as a tank crew member. He was then assigned to HHC, 2nd Battalion, 33rd Armored Regiment in Europe, and served on active duty for three years before joining the Army Reserve on August 21, 1974. Many years, and many promotions later, he joined the 352nd Civil Affairs Command on Aug. 1, 2002.
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