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Richard
Coffey
Coffey
SGT · · Infantry Operations & Intelligence Specialist
KIA
In-Country Service
1965-08-19 –
Home of Record
Los Angeles, California
Character of Service
Honorable
Archive Status
Active
Compiled from the Virtual Wall, Honor States, and the November 4, 1965 event record (Hill 732, Pleiku Campaign). If you served with or knew Richard Coffey, please use the contribute form to share what you remember.
1965-08-19
Arrived
Began tour in Vietnam — August 19, 1965
SGT Coffey began his tour with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry (Airmobile), 1st Cavalry Division — among the first weeks of the division's deployment to the Republic of Vietnam.
1965-11-04
Combat Action
Killed in Action
Killed in action — Hill 732, Pleiku Province
SGT Coffey was killed by hostile small-arms fire during the battalion action near Hill 732 in the Chu Pong–Ia Drang area of Pleiku Province, part of the pursuit of the PAVN 33rd Regiment after the relief of Plei Me (Operation All the Way). He was 24. Two other D Company men — PFC Wright Hamill and CPL Eddie Hill — were killed the same day; all three are inscribed together on the Wall (Panel 3E, Lines 17–18).
⚠ Source Notice — Multiple Accounts Exist
Casualty cause (hostile, small-arms fire) from the Honor States record. Place of death follows the event reconstruction (Hill 732 / Pleiku Province); the casualty record's "Tay Ninh" province is a known DCAS coding error.
1965-11-04
Casualty record
Hill 732, Chu Pong–Ia Drang area, Pleiku Province, RVN (vicinity LZ Juliet)
Did You Know Richard, or Serve Alongside Richard?
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