William Coffey

William Louis Coffey (Aug. 29, 1943 – March 6, 1971) was a soldier from Oneida killed in action during the Vietnam War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Born Aug. 29, 1943 in Oneida, William L. “Bill” Coffey was the son of Charles Ralph Coffey Sr. (1917-1997) and Leona Mae Chambers (1921-2013). His siblings included Charles Ralph Coffey Jr. (1941-1996) and Ella Sexton.

He was descended from Revolutionary War veterans William Chambers and Randolph Lawson on his mother’s side. Lawson settled on Paint Rock Creek and Chambers settled on Buffalo Creek after the war. Chambers’ son, Thomas, married Lawson’s daughter, Katie.

Bill was a first cousin to James Larry Chambers, who was killed during the war on May 8, 1968. His mother and James’ father were siblings.

Bill attended Oneida High School and married Phyllis Shoopman, of Stearns, Ky. They had two children: daughter Michelle Coffey and son Mark Coffey, ages two and four at the time of his death. He received his high school diploma after entering the Army.

Vietnam War

Sgt. Coffey enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 1962 and was assigned to Unit B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, 5th Infantry Division. He was wounded in action on Feb. 20, 1971, and died on March 6, 1971.

Aftermath

Sgt. Coffey’s body was returned to Scott County, and he was buried at Litton Cemetery in Oneida.

He received the Purple Heart, and is listed on the VFW Post 5669 Memorial Wall in Oneida, the Scott County Veterans Memorial in Huntsville, and the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial in Knoxville. He is also listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.