Alexander the son of Alexander Coles Sr. and Beryl Coles of Salem New Jersey enlisted in the US Navy on December 6 1966 and entered active duty on January 11 1966 in Philadelphia PA. In Vietnam he was assigned as a Hospital Corpsman and served with H&S Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
During the month of January, the Battalion conducted extensive patrols and ambushes within Hieu Nhon and Dien Ban Districts of Quang Nam Province. On January 23, a Company D platoon patrol 1 kilometer north east of Dien Ban was approaching the Tan My village complex when it was hit with a large volume of automatic weapons fire. The Marines in the lead element returned fire and maneuvered towards the enemy, while additional Marines attempted to cut off any avenue of escape. Two men were killed and four were wounded during the action, and one of the casualties was HN Alexander Coles who was killed by the hostile gunfire.
* HN Alexander Coles was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on Jan 23 1967...."
∼Hospitalman, U.S. Navy
On 23 January 1967, Hospitalman Alexander Coles, Jr. was serving with Headquarters & Service Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
On that day, HN Coles was killed in action when he sustained wounds from small arms fire. His body was recovered.
Medals and Badge
Silver Star Medal
Navy Corpsman Badge
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Alexander Coles, Jr. (8404067), Hospitalman, U.S. Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against a hostile force while serving as a Corpsman with Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action on 23 January 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam. When the second platoon of Company D was brought under a withering barrage of enemy small arms fire, and sustained several casualties, Petty Officer Coles quickly moved from his position in the rear squad to the front where the casualties were located. Unhesitatingly, he rushed into the open rice paddy, completely oblivious of the intense fire he was drawing, and treated the first wounded man he spotted, who was lying in a completely exposed position. After treating the casualty, Petty Officer Coles pinpointed another seriously wounded Marine, and began to crawl, still further into the exposed position to give aid to the fallen comrade. In a valiant attempt to reach the wounded man, Petty Officer Coles was fatally wounded when struck by enemy gunfire. By his courageous actions, complete disregard for his own safety, and selfless devotion to duty, he upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Home Town: Salem, New Jersey
Personal Awards: Silver Star (Vietnam), Purple Heart
Honors
The name Alexander Coles Jr. is located on Panel 14E Line 69 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
HN Alexander Coles, Jr. has Honoree Record 8155 at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.
During the month of January, the Battalion conducted extensive patrols and ambushes within Hieu Nhon and Dien Ban Districts of Quang Nam Province. On January 23, a Company D platoon patrol 1 kilometer north east of Dien Ban was approaching the Tan My village complex when it was hit with a large volume of automatic weapons fire. The Marines in the lead element returned fire and maneuvered towards the enemy, while additional Marines attempted to cut off any avenue of escape. Two men were killed and four were wounded during the action, and one of the casualties was HN Alexander Coles who was killed by the hostile gunfire.
* HN Alexander Coles was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on Jan 23 1967...."
∼Hospitalman, U.S. Navy
On 23 January 1967, Hospitalman Alexander Coles, Jr. was serving with Headquarters & Service Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
On that day, HN Coles was killed in action when he sustained wounds from small arms fire. His body was recovered.
Medals and Badge
Silver Star Medal
Navy Corpsman Badge
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Alexander Coles, Jr. (8404067), Hospitalman, U.S. Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against a hostile force while serving as a Corpsman with Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action on 23 January 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam. When the second platoon of Company D was brought under a withering barrage of enemy small arms fire, and sustained several casualties, Petty Officer Coles quickly moved from his position in the rear squad to the front where the casualties were located. Unhesitatingly, he rushed into the open rice paddy, completely oblivious of the intense fire he was drawing, and treated the first wounded man he spotted, who was lying in a completely exposed position. After treating the casualty, Petty Officer Coles pinpointed another seriously wounded Marine, and began to crawl, still further into the exposed position to give aid to the fallen comrade. In a valiant attempt to reach the wounded man, Petty Officer Coles was fatally wounded when struck by enemy gunfire. By his courageous actions, complete disregard for his own safety, and selfless devotion to duty, he upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Home Town: Salem, New Jersey
Personal Awards: Silver Star (Vietnam), Purple Heart
Honors
The name Alexander Coles Jr. is located on Panel 14E Line 69 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
HN Alexander Coles, Jr. has Honoree Record 8155 at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.
Alexander the son of Alexander Coles Sr. and Beryl Coles of Salem New Jersey enlisted in the US Navy on December 6 1966 and entered active duty on January 11 1966 in Philadelphia PA. In Vietnam he was assigned as a Hospital Corpsman and served with H&S Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
During the month of January, the Battalion conducted extensive patrols and ambushes within Hieu Nhon and Dien Ban Districts of Quang Nam Province. On January 23, a Company D platoon patrol 1 kilometer north east of Dien Ban was approaching the Tan My village complex when it was hit with a large volume of automatic weapons fire. The Marines in the lead element returned fire and maneuvered towards the enemy, while additional Marines attempted to cut off any avenue of escape. Two men were killed and four were wounded during the action, and one of the casualties was HN Alexander Coles who was killed by the hostile gunfire.
* HN Alexander Coles was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on Jan 23 1967...."
∼Hospitalman, U.S. Navy
On 23 January 1967, Hospitalman Alexander Coles, Jr. was serving with Headquarters & Service Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
On that day, HN Coles was killed in action when he sustained wounds from small arms fire. His body was recovered.
Medals and Badge
Silver Star Medal
Navy Corpsman Badge
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Alexander Coles, Jr. (8404067), Hospitalman, U.S. Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against a hostile force while serving as a Corpsman with Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action on 23 January 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam. When the second platoon of Company D was brought under a withering barrage of enemy small arms fire, and sustained several casualties, Petty Officer Coles quickly moved from his position in the rear squad to the front where the casualties were located. Unhesitatingly, he rushed into the open rice paddy, completely oblivious of the intense fire he was drawing, and treated the first wounded man he spotted, who was lying in a completely exposed position. After treating the casualty, Petty Officer Coles pinpointed another seriously wounded Marine, and began to crawl, still further into the exposed position to give aid to the fallen comrade. In a valiant attempt to reach the wounded man, Petty Officer Coles was fatally wounded when struck by enemy gunfire. By his courageous actions, complete disregard for his own safety, and selfless devotion to duty, he upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Home Town: Salem, New Jersey
Personal Awards: Silver Star (Vietnam), Purple Heart
Honors
The name Alexander Coles Jr. is located on Panel 14E Line 69 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
HN Alexander Coles, Jr. has Honoree Record 8155 at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.
During the month of January, the Battalion conducted extensive patrols and ambushes within Hieu Nhon and Dien Ban Districts of Quang Nam Province. On January 23, a Company D platoon patrol 1 kilometer north east of Dien Ban was approaching the Tan My village complex when it was hit with a large volume of automatic weapons fire. The Marines in the lead element returned fire and maneuvered towards the enemy, while additional Marines attempted to cut off any avenue of escape. Two men were killed and four were wounded during the action, and one of the casualties was HN Alexander Coles who was killed by the hostile gunfire.
* HN Alexander Coles was presented with the SILVER STAR Medal posthumously "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action ....on Jan 23 1967...."
∼Hospitalman, U.S. Navy
On 23 January 1967, Hospitalman Alexander Coles, Jr. was serving with Headquarters & Service Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
On that day, HN Coles was killed in action when he sustained wounds from small arms fire. His body was recovered.
Medals and Badge
Silver Star Medal
Navy Corpsman Badge
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Alexander Coles, Jr. (8404067), Hospitalman, U.S. Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against a hostile force while serving as a Corpsman with Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action on 23 January 1967, in the Republic of Vietnam. When the second platoon of Company D was brought under a withering barrage of enemy small arms fire, and sustained several casualties, Petty Officer Coles quickly moved from his position in the rear squad to the front where the casualties were located. Unhesitatingly, he rushed into the open rice paddy, completely oblivious of the intense fire he was drawing, and treated the first wounded man he spotted, who was lying in a completely exposed position. After treating the casualty, Petty Officer Coles pinpointed another seriously wounded Marine, and began to crawl, still further into the exposed position to give aid to the fallen comrade. In a valiant attempt to reach the wounded man, Petty Officer Coles was fatally wounded when struck by enemy gunfire. By his courageous actions, complete disregard for his own safety, and selfless devotion to duty, he upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Home Town: Salem, New Jersey
Personal Awards: Silver Star (Vietnam), Purple Heart
Honors
The name Alexander Coles Jr. is located on Panel 14E Line 69 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
HN Alexander Coles, Jr. has Honoree Record 8155 at MilitaryHallofHonor.com.
Inscription
New Jersey
HM3
US Navy
Vietnam
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