Commander George Coker was one of the “Alcatraz 11,” a group considered by the North Vietnamese to be the resistance leadership, even though he was a junior officer. The Alcatraz 11 were moved from Hao Lo to a separate facility “Alcatraz” in 1967. Among them were Jim Stockdale and Bob Shumaker. Like Shumaker, Coker was a key communications link in the command structure at Hao Lo and the other Hanoi prisons. He also has the distinction of being one of two men who escaped Hanoi. He and George McKnight made it 15 miles down the Red River before being recaptured. CDR Coker tells these stories and gives fascinating details about the communications system and the tap code, while also giving valuable insight into the leadership acumen of Stockdale, and advice on how best to deal with, and profit from adverse circumstance.
Gerald Coffee – Liberty University Convocation
On November 6, 2013 at Military Emphasis Week’s Convocation, North America’s largest weekly gathering of Christian students, Gerald Coffee spoke to students and faculty about the four different levels of faith, that being faith in yourself, your fellow man, America, and ultimately, faith in God. He explained that even after spending seven years as a prisoner of war, “God equals strength.” Born in Modesto, California, Gerald “Jerry” Coffee joined the Navy in 1957 after graduating
