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 from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He spent seven years as a POW in the Communist prisons of North Vietnam. His military decorations include the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal, two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnam Service Medal with 13 stars. For the past 20 years, Captain Gerald Coffee, has been considered one of the nation’s top speakers, addressing thousands each year.
John McCain on the horrors he endured as a POW
“I thought perhaps I was going to die,” McCain told ABC’s Sam Donaldson in a 1999 interview when describing being captured and tortured by the Vietcong.
