Ralph Edwin Coffield

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Ralph Edwin Coffield (854157), Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as a Gunner serving with Company A, First Battalion, Twenty- Ninth Marines, SIXTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima, Ryukyu Islands, on 12 April 1945. Quick to act when an enemy machine gun in a camouflaged position opened fire on one of his company’s machine gun crews, Corporal Coffield unhesitatingly threw his body in the direct line of fire of the Japanese gun and, armed only with a pistol, fiercely returned the enemy’s persistent fire, shielding the friendly gun and its crew until he was mortally wounded by a burst of hostile fire. By his courageous initiative, unfaltering devotion to duty and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice, he enabled the machine gun crew to put their gun into action and to repulse the Japanese attack, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Commander in Chief, Pacific Forces: Serial 53503 (February 7, 1946)