Cuban Missile Crisis

As many of you know, this October marked the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. After half a century it's still hard to forget John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev's battle of power that nearly detonated a nuclear war. Suspicions began to arise of the Soviets secretly putting nuclear weapons in Cuba aimed at United States soil. Yet it wasn't until Kennedy and the United States Ambassador to the UN had visual proof of these weapons that they were able to give the Soviet Union an ultimatum that saved the world from Armageddon.

To thank for those important images we have Captain Gerald Coffee and his teammates. As part of a reconnaissance mission they risked their lives to fly over communist land and take pictures of America's pending doom. Listen to Captain Coffee's personal account during this enlightening interviews on national television.

The Military Channel "Commander in Chief: Inside the Oval Office: Low Flight Over Cuba"

CBS Sunday Morning "When the U.S. was on the brink of nuclear war"

PBS "Three Men go to War"

Jerry Coffee: Faith and Courage of a Vietnam POW Part 1

This clip is from Jerry Coffee: Faith and Courage of a Vietnam POW which was part of the 1996 Victories Series, a documentary series that highlighted individuals who found the courage to overcome overwhelming adversity.

Jerry Coffee: Faith and Courage of a Vietnam POW Part 2

 Part Two of Jerry's segment in the 1996 documentary Victories Series. Jerry continues to explain the struggles presented in the Hoa Lo prison and how through communication with his fellow prisoners he was able to keep his faith.

Honoring Fallen Heros

 Ottawa Hills, Ohio, is a beautiful little residential enclave on the edge of Toledo. With shady streets and manicured lawns providing the setting for a diverse collection of upscale homes forming a town large enough to support it's own school district;  Ottawa Hills Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools. OHHS is the alma mater of my crewman, LTJG Robert Taft Hanson, Jr. He was killed the day we were shot down over North Vietnam. He was 24 years old. His remains were returned through Hickam AFB in 1988.

Over the past year a  group of OHHS alumni have financed and established the "Liberty Memorial", a flag pole in an attractive brick and concrete base circled by cement benches in front of the school. On the base are three marble plaques, on two of which are engraved the names of OHHS alums who have served in our nation's military, some with inscribed stars denoting their ultimate sacrifice; KIA. 

I was invited to speak to the students and community members at the dedication of the memorial earlier this month. I spoke mainly to the students, emphasizing the axiom that "Freedom Isn't Free", and how blessed they were by their school mates who have gone before them and served to guarantee their freedom. Hard to believe; that handsome young Naval Officer from Ottawa Hills, Ohio who was my friend and crewman in 1966, would now be close to 70 years old.

Every high school in America should have a living "Liberty Memorial."

The Vigilante - "A Smooth Ride"

The Vigilante, or “Vigi”,  was a great airplane to fly aboard ship (or anywhere) because it felt solid; like “being on rails”. Because as the “recce” version of the A-5A (the original attack version) it was heavier but with the same engines, so it was a little under powered, and required closer attention to the carrier approach. I never let it get low on the approach “glide slope” because it was slower to react to the application of more power, and you could be in the “spud locker” in a blink.

RA-5C Vigilante

Vigilante in Action.

A Message about the New Blog

Captain Gerald Coffee and Coffee Enterprises are excited about the creation of our new blog, "Beyond Survival." The purpose of this blog is broad. First, we want to help everyone understand the life of Jerry Coffee; from his remarkable story and unique history to his speaking career and more. While Beyond Survival the book provides great insight, we feel there is so much more that we can share about Jerry, the POW's and Vietnam War. We will be blogging pictures and videos that will give you a more comprehensive understanding.

Along with posting from the past, we will be looking into the future. This has been a very busy year for Coffee Enterprises and with so many new projects in the works we needed a way to keep everyone up-to-date. Without giving too much away, we've been working hard on several things for the upcoming 40-year anniversary of the return of the North Vietnam POWs next February.

Most importantly though, we realize that times are hard for everyone these days and now, more than ever, it's essential to continue spreading the faith, courage and inner strength. While many of you will have already heard Jerry speak or have read his book, it's still important to be reminded of his message of reaffirming the invincibility of the human spirit. There will be blog posts of quotes from Jerry's book as well as messages from him personally to keep a constant reminder for everyone to stay strong in every situation.

We appreciate your continued support and are glad that you join us on this new journey into the blogging world! Please share this blog site with your colleagues, friends, and family.

GBU/GBA