His first tour was in VFP-62 flying Photo Crusaders -- the RF-8A -- from the decks of Atlantic fleet carriers. He made two Mediterranean deployments on the USS Saratoga.

In October of 1963 he was one of the first reconnaissance pilots to fly low level missions over Cuba. His photos were used the next day by U.N. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson to prove the existence of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba to the United Nations.

From 1963 to 1966 he was assigned to Heavy Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Three as a flight and reconnaissance training instructor in the new RA-5C Vigilante. From there he deployed to Vietnam in Heavy Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Thirteen aboard the USS Kitty Hawk.

On February 3rd, 1966, his Vigilante was shot down over North Vietnam, he was captured and held as a POW for the next seven years. He was released in the first increment of POWs on February 12, 1973.

From 1973 to 1975 he attended the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Master’s Degree in Political Science.

He returned to flying in the A-4 Skyhawk and from 1975 to 1977 when he was the Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of VC-1 at NAS Barbers Pt., Hawaii.

In 1977 he attended the National War College in Washington, D.C., than returned to Hawaii where he was assigned to the post of Fleet Air Operations Officer for the Pacific Fleet until 1982. His final assignment was also on the CINCPACFLT staff as a Public Affairs Officer, speaking on a full time basis.

Today Captain Coffee speaks to audiences worldwide with his message of going “Beyond Survival.” He has especially enjoyed speaking on “Honor” for the past five summers to the Plebe Classes at the US Naval Academy.

Captain Coffee resides in Aiea, Hawaii with his wife, Susan Page, a journalist. Between them they have 6 grown children and 7 grandchildren. Their lanai overlooks Pearl Harbor and across to Camp Smith where a giant American flag dedicated to America’s POWs and MIAs waves 24/7.

"Click here for a printable version of Captain Coffee's Military Bio"

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