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Coffman, DeWitt Clinton

Date of birth:
November 28th, 1854 (Mount Jackson/Virginia, United States)
Date of death:
June 27th, 1932 (Jamestown/Rhode Island, United States)
Buried on:
United States Naval Academy Cemetery
Plot: 3. 
Nationality:
American

Biography

Promotions:
1879: Ensign;
1885: Lieutenant Junior Grade;
1909: Captain;
December 5th, 1914: Rear Admiral;
June 19th,1916: acting Vice Admiral;
June 21st, 1930: Vice Admiral (Reserves).

Career:
? - 1876: US Naval Academy;
1876: USS Pensacola (1859);
?: Coast Survey Steamer USC&GS Carlile P. Patterson;
?: USS Pensacola (1859);
?: USS Adams (1874);
?: USS Boston (1884);
?: USS Terror (BM-4);
1900: Commandant of Midshipman, Naval Academy;
1912: Commandant, Boston Navy Shipyard;
1914: 3rd Division, Atlantic Fleet;
1918: Commander, Battleship Force 2, Atlantic Fleet;
?: Commander Battle Force, Atlantic Fleet / Second in Command, Atlantic Force;
November 28th, 1918: Reserves.

In 1868 Coffman Cove in Alaska was named after him and in 1943 the destroyer USS Coffman (DE-191).

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Rear Admiral
Unit:
Commander, Battleship Force 2, Atlantic Fleet, U.S. Navy
Citation:
"For exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commander of Battleship Force 2, Atlantic Fleet, and also for the efficient manner in which he administered and operated the fleet in the temporary absence of the commander in chief during August, September, and October 1917."
Distinguished Service Medal - Navy/USMC

Sources

Photo