[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 5 (Monday, January 31, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E27-E28]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN MEMORY OF COLONEL CHESTER B. McCOID of MIDDLETOWN, CT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 31, 2000

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of 
Colonel Chester B. McCoid of Middletown, CT. Colonel McCoid, who passed 
away on January 2, was a true American Hero, a veteran of three of the 
century's largest military conflicts and a patriot of the highest 
order.
  Colonel McCoid began his 34 year military career by concealing his 
age to enlist in the Army in World War II. The Colonel became a member 
of the fabled 82nd Airborne Division and parachuted into Normandy on D-
Day. Wounded by ground fire before even exiting the aircraft, Colonel 
McCoid nevertheless landed with his unit and moved to carry out its 
mission. Steve Ambrose has recently written a testament to the 
extraordinary efforts of the men who struggled ashore on Utah and Omaha 
beaches and parachuted into the Norman countryside on June 6, 1944. In 
assessing the success of the Allied campaign on D-Day, Mr. Ambrose 
concluded that ``. . . in the end success or failure in Operation 
Overlord came down to a relatively small number of junior officers, 
noncoms, and privates or seamen in the American, British, and Canadian 
armies, navies, air forces, and coast guards.'' Colonel McCoid and 
other brave young men made the difference that day and laid the 
foundation for defeating the Nazis in Europe.
  After recovering from his wound, Colonel McCoid returned to active 
duty and was again wounded in combat. Following the War, he received a 
commission in the Army. He went on to serve in Korea and in a number of 
positions in the Pentagon before beginning duty in Vietnam in 1966. 
Over the next eight years, Colonel McCoid would spend fifty-one months 
on active duty commanding the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and 
acting as Deputy Commander of the Independent 1st Brigade, 101st 
Airborne Division. Near the end of the American involvement in the 
conflict, Colonel McCoid headed the American Element of the Four Party 
Military Commission encompassing the City of Da Nang and three 
surrounding

[[Page E28]]

provinces. In this capacity, he directly participated in negotiating 
the terms under which American forces would withdraw. On March 29, 
1973, Colonel McCoid was the last ground force soldier outside of 
Saigon to leave Vietnam.
  Colonel McCoid received many decorations and awards during his 
military career, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver 
Star, five Legions of Merit, five Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. 
The Colonel is one of less than 300 Americans who have been awarded the 
Combat Infantry Badge three times. This honor is bestowed on American 
service men and women who have been engaged in direct combat with enemy 
forces.
  Athough these awards tell us much about the Colonel's bravery and 
valor, we can learn as much about his character based on an account of 
a decoration he would not accept. According to retired Army Colonel 
John Collins, Colonel McCoid refused to accept the Distinguished 
Service Cross for his actions in Southeast Asia. Colonel McCoid 
declined saying that he had done much more in World War II and didn't 
receive the medal so he didn't see why he should receive it later in 
his career. Colonel McCoid made a powerful statement about honoring 
veterans who came before--and later--by declining to accept an award he 
did not believe he had earned.
  Mr. Speaker, Colonel Chester B. McCoid was an American hero. He 
answered his nation's call to service and distinguished himself at 
every turn. He helped to ensure the freedom of the world and to 
safeguard the rights we hold so dear. I extend my sympathy to his 
family and ask all members to join me in remembering Colonel McCoid for 
his extraordinary service to our country.

                          ____________________