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DeWitt Coffman

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DeWitt C. Coffman
Born(1854-11-28)November 28, 1854
Mount Jackson, Virginia
DiedJune 27, 1932(1932-06-27) (aged 77)
Jamestown, Rhode Island
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branch United States Navy
Years of service1876–1918
RankVice Admiral
Battles / warsSpanish–American War
World War I
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal

DeWitt Clinton Coffman[1] (28 November 1854–27 June 1932) was a United States Navy admiral. He served in the Spanish–American War and World War I.

Life and career

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Coffman was born at Mount Jackson, Virginia on 28 November 1854. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy on 20 June 1876.[1] Coffman later attended the Naval War College in 1901.[2]

Coffman served in monitor Terror during the Spanish–American War, and received the Distinguished Service Medal as Commander, Battleship Force 2, Atlantic Fleet, during World War I.

He retired as Rear Admiral on 28 November 1918, and was advanced to Vice Admiral on the retired list on 21 June 1930. He died at Jamestown, Rhode Island, on 27 June 1932.

Namesakes

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U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander A. S. Snow named Coffman Cove in Alaska after Coffman in 1886.[3]

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Coffman (DE-191), launched in 1943, was named in Coffman's honor.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Register of Alumni: Graduates and Former Naval Cadets and Midshipmen. The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, Inc. 1 July 1956. p. 144. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  2. ^ Register of Officers 1884–1977. The United States Naval War College. 1977. p. 8. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs". commerce.state.ak.us. Retrieved 8 August 2010.