 Captain Gerald Coffee - As a returned Prisoner of War
from Vietnam and the author of Beyond Survival: Building on Hard Times,
Captain Gerald Coffee's message focuses not upon the horrors of his seven year
incarceration, but upon the positive lessons learned by himself and other
Americans held captive. His faith--in himself, his fellow man, his country, and
his God--was the key to his survival, and can be for all--each day, today and
tomorrow.
In using his incredible experiences as a vehicle, Captain
Gerald Coffee leads his audience through laughter and through tears, and
ultimately to the affirmation that we are all so much stronger and more capable
than we give ourselves credit for, and we each have the potential to survive any
ordeal, overcome any obstacle, achieve any goal. His style is genuine, warm, and
witty; his message unforgettable.
Captain Gerald Coffee is a native Californian, who graduated
from U.C.L.A. in 1957. He was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1958 and
received his Navy wings in 1959. His early operational flying was primarily in
tactical reconnaissance, flying advanced Navy jets from the decks of several
aircraft carriers in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Pacific Oceans.
In early 1966, while flying combat missions from the USS Kitty Hawk in the
Tonkin Gulf, Captain Gerald Coffee's aircraft was downed by enemy fire over
North Vietnam. He parachuted safely, but was captured immediately. For the next
seven years, he served as a prisoner of War in the various prisons of Hanoi. He
was repatriated with the first group of POW's on February 12, 1973.
Since his return, Captain Gerald Coffee has earned a Masters
Degree in Political Science from U.C. Berkeley, graduated from the National War
College in Washington D.C., and commanded his own squadron at Naval Air Station
Barbers Point, Hawaii. He currently serves as a Public Affairs officer on the
staff of the commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Captain Gerald Coffee's
military awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, the
Distinguished Flying Cross, two awards of the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, two
awards of the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with
13 stars.
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