Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Unit:

Company C, 81st Tank Battalion, 5th Armored Division "Victory", U.S. Army (Company C, 81st Tank Battalion, 5th Armored Division "Victory", U.S. Army)

Leo G. Coakley, 01012255, First Lieutenant, Infantry, United States Army for gallantry in action in France on 17 August 1944. When an enemy Mark V tank attempted to break through a road block in complete darkness, First Lieutenant Coakley, with complete disregard for his own safety and in spite of enemy machine gun fire, ran forward toward the enemy tank and fired flares thereby enabling his gunners to see and knock out the enemy tank.


Headquarters, 5th Armored Divions, General Orders No. 16 (7 October 1944).
For action performed on, 17 August 1944 near Champenard/ Eure department, Upper Normandy, France.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

1st Lieutenant

Unit:

Company C, 81st Tank Battalion, 5th Armored Division "Victory", U.S. Army (Company C, 81st Tank Battalion, 5th Armored Division "Victory", U.S. Army)

Leo G. Coakley, 01012255, First Lieutenant, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action in Germany on 14 December 1944. First Lieutenant Coakley, as commander of a tank platoon in support of infantry clearing the enemy from well fortified positions in a timbered section, disregarding his own safety, rode high on the turret of his tank through enemy shell fire for better observation in directing the operations of his troops. When the enemy supplemented their barrage with high explosive anti-tank fire, First Lieutenant Coakley deliberately ex-posed his position to hostile fire and maneuvered his tank in view of the enemy to draw all their fire in order that other tanks of his platoon could move in to destroy the guns. During this operation First Lieutenant Coakley was seriously wounded but refused to relinquish his command until he had directed his troops to a place of safety. His gallentry and intrepidity in great danger uphold the highest traditions of the United States Army.


Posthumously awarded.
Headquarters, 5th Armored Divions, General Orders No. 3 (24 January 1945).
This award was obtained in the form of an Oak Leaf to be attached on the ribbon of the first award.
For action performed on, 14 December 1944 near Schafberg, Hürtgenwald/Rhine Province, Germany.