Captain Clovis C. Coffman, Jr., USMC, was awarded the Navy Cross in recognition of his extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company C, First Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division in the Replubic of Vietnam on 10 October 1966. the then Sergeant Coffman was leading a thirteen man patrol assigned the mission of observing a valley near Lon Binh, Quang Ngai Province for enemy activity. Early in the afternoon, while leading his unit from their observation post to a helicopter landing zone, the patrol game under a heavy small arms and grenade attack from an estimated thirty-five to fifty man enemy force. Reacting immediately, Sergeant Coffman skillfully organized and directed the return fire of his outnumbered unit. Fearlessly disregarding his own safety, he repeatedly exposed himself in order to deploy his force and deliver maximum fire power against the attackers. On one occasion during the ensuing fierce action, he observed a wounded Marine lying helpless forward of his position. Courageously he went to his stricken comrade’s aid. Although wounded himself, he killed three of the enemy at point blank range in order to reach the strickent Marine. Sergeant Coffman was successful in his effort to return his stricken comrade to friendly lines. When the patrol’s medical corpsman was disabled by wounds, he skillfully administered first aid to four seriously wounded Marines. Sergeant Coffman directed fixed wing and armed helicopter attacks against the enemy with devastating accuracy, with the result that helicopters were able to land and extract the force. Although wounded, he remained until all of his men were safely embarked, resolutely defending the landing zone. As the last rescue helicopter was loading, he and another Marine held the landing zone alone, killing four of the enemy in close combat. Only after all of his patrol were embarked, did he board the aircraft and depart the embattled area. By his courageous devotion to duty, and extraordinary leadership, Sergeant Coffman reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest tradition of the United States Naval Service.

Col. Coffman joined the Legion of Valor in 1974.