Col. James H. Coffman Jr.

You probably haven't heard about Col. Coffman because its not the sort of news that the MSM treats as "news". Coffman is from Massachusetts but instead of getting a hero's treatment with profiles and interviews with the family - the Boston Globe carried just a single AP report. Can you believe how flimsy the treatment of Col. Coffman was by the Globe? Just 12 small paragraphs containing 402 words. That's the size of report you'd expect for a local girls softball game - not the kind of coverage that should be given to a Massachusetts guy getting the nation's second highest military honor.

The heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan never seem to get the recognition they deserve. Meet Col. James H. Coffman Jr. For his actions last November, he was just awarded the Distinguished Service Cross which is second only to the Medal of Honor for military honors.

Under heavy fire, he moved from commando to commando, looking each in the eye and using hand and arm signals to demonstrate what he wanted done," the citation said.

When an enemy round shattered his left shooting hand, damaging his M4 rifle in the process, Coffman bandaged it and continued fighting with AK-47 rifles he collected from commando casualties until each ran out of ammunition. He also passed out ammunition to the uninjured commandos with the help of the remaining commando officer; when all that remained were loose rounds, Coffman held magazines between his legs and loaded the rounds with his good hand.

When a second commando unit arrived four hours after the fight began, Coffman led them to his position and continued to fight, refusing to be evacuated for treatment until the battle was over. Not long after the commando reinforcements arrived, air support and a Stryker Brigade Quick Reaction Force were on hand to assist to assist in the battle.

Coffman supervised the evacuation of injured commandos and led another group of commandos to the police station to make contact with the Iraqi Police inside. Once the additional air and ground support elements began attacking buildings the enemy forces were hiding in, Coffman went back to his initial position to check on the injured commandos and then agreed to be evacuated for treatment. Twenty-five insurgents were killed and dozens injured.

If Coffman had been a victim like Jessica Lynch, instead of a hero, there'd be a TV movie about him in place by now.

Coffman was born in Great Barrington, MA and lived there until he enlisted. You would not know this if you relied on the Boston Globe for your news.

Thanks to LargeBill for pointing out the AP report to me.