Alaska Highway. Company H/S, C, HQ. Born: 10 June 1914, Richwood, Nicholas County, West VA. Died: 15 March 2012, Pensacola, Escambia County, FL.
He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute June of 1936 with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering. He received a commission as a 2Lt Reserve Officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers most likely with ROTC.
He took his first job in 1937 as a chemical engineer in the General Research Division of Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
Prior to being called to active duty in 1941, he married his high school classmate, Tacy Irene Synder on 11 September 1940 in Washington, NC.
Ordered to active duty in April 1941, he served with the Army Corps of Engineers assigned to the 97th Engineer (GS) Regiment. In April 1942 he with the 97th landed in Valdez, Alaska. Three feet of snow covered the ground. The 97th built the northern section of the Alaska Highway.
Lt. Coleman was with the H&S Company from April to June, 1942. Next he was assigned to Company C from July 1942 to January 1943 when he took over command of Company C. That month, January of 1943, he was promoted to Captain. February 1943, he returned to Headquarters, H&S Company, in charge of operations and intelligence.
Discharged in 1946, he served in the Army Reserve until 1952 retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
He returned to work at Owens-Illinois Glass Company in Toledo, Ohio with the Consumer and Technical Products Division who developed and manufactured glass bulbs for television. Promoted general manager, he transferred to the International Division in Italy producing glass tubing for medicinal containers.
In July 1974 he retired as a chemical engineer and became an author of three books – Guardians on the Gulf, he jointly authored this history of Pensacola; Fort McRee, a Castle Built on Sand; and USS Massachusets, the story of a sunken Spanish American War battleship.
His father was Edward Francis Coleman and his mother was Camilla Virgie Craig. He and his wife, Irene, had two children, Bruce and Sarah. They celebrated their 71st Anniversary in 2011.
Serial #O-340037
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