John Alan Coey
Encyclopedia
John Alan Coey was a former U.S. Marine who later went on to serve in The Crippled Eagles
, a group of Americans fighting for the Rhodesia
n government during the 1970s in that country's Bush War
. After being killed his journal was published under the name, A Martyr Speaks.
, he was a graduate of Ohio State University
. At the Columbus campus
he was in the U.S. Marine Corps' Platoon Leader Class, which was part of their Officer Training Program. He was an Eagle Scout
, and originally had plans to join with the Rhodesian Forestry Commission. Since his first day, March 26, 1972, in the Rhodesian Security Forces, he kept a journal. His first posting was to the Rhodesian Special Air Service. In early 1973 he had been in a covert operation inside soon-to-be independent Mozambique
, in the Tete province
, where he first saw combat action. By May 1974, he was appointed to be an instructor in the Rhodesian Light Infantry
, where he met with most of the fellow Americans
, who were later called The Crippled Eagles
. By the Fall 1974, he was member of the Support Commando of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, where he specialized in tracking
, mortars
, and driving armored vehicles. Meanwhile, he trained to be an officer, but was rejected for his extreme conspiratorial views. He eventually found his niche as an Army medic
. In July 1974 Coey was posted to the Rhodesian Light Infantry as a commando
paramedic and participated in over 60 fire-force missions. He helped pioneer the role of combat medic
with the Rhodesian Light Infantry. By the Rhodesian Bush War
's end, the Rhodesian Light Infantry had three medics Killed in Action and three Wounded in Action.
proper, was struck by a gunshot wound, when he went to assist two fallen soldiers in a riverbed on July 19, 1975, with his clearly visible Red Cross flag. This contact resulted in four Rhodesian soldiers being killed and four wounded. He was the first American
casualty of the Rhodesian Bush War
, and of The Crippled Eagles
. His life, and death had been used for propaganda
reasons by some radical
political movements, but himself was never member of any such groups.
The Crippled Eagles
The Crippled Eagles was the informal name of a group of American expatriates that fought with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. The name and emblem came from author Robin Moore who offered a house in Salisbury as a meeting place for the Americans who served in all units...
, a group of Americans fighting for the Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
n government during the 1970s in that country's Bush War
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
. After being killed his journal was published under the name, A Martyr Speaks.
Biography
Originally from Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, he was a graduate of Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. At the Columbus campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
he was in the U.S. Marine Corps' Platoon Leader Class, which was part of their Officer Training Program. He was an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
, and originally had plans to join with the Rhodesian Forestry Commission. Since his first day, March 26, 1972, in the Rhodesian Security Forces, he kept a journal. His first posting was to the Rhodesian Special Air Service. In early 1973 he had been in a covert operation inside soon-to-be independent Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, in the Tete province
Tete Province
Tete is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 100,724 km² and a population of approximately 1.551.949 .Tete is the capital of the province...
, where he first saw combat action. By May 1974, he was appointed to be an instructor in the Rhodesian Light Infantry
Rhodesian Light Infantry
The 1st Battalion, The Rhodesian Light Infantry, commonly the Rhodesian Light Infantry , was a regiment formed in 1961 at Brady Barracks, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia as a light infantry unit within the army of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland...
, where he met with most of the fellow Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who were later called The Crippled Eagles
The Crippled Eagles
The Crippled Eagles was the informal name of a group of American expatriates that fought with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. The name and emblem came from author Robin Moore who offered a house in Salisbury as a meeting place for the Americans who served in all units...
. By the Fall 1974, he was member of the Support Commando of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, where he specialized in tracking
Tracking
Tracking can refer to:*Tracking , separating children into different classes according to their academic ability*Tracking, in computer graphics, a vital part of match moving...
, mortars
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
, and driving armored vehicles. Meanwhile, he trained to be an officer, but was rejected for his extreme conspiratorial views. He eventually found his niche as an Army medic
Medic
Medic is a general term for a person involved in medicine, especially emergency or first-response medicine, such as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or a military member trained in battlefield medicine. Also the term is used toward a Nurse in pre-hospital care and/or emergency...
. In July 1974 Coey was posted to the Rhodesian Light Infantry as a commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
paramedic and participated in over 60 fire-force missions. He helped pioneer the role of combat medic
Combat medic
Combat medics are trained military personnel who are responsible for providing first aid and frontline trauma care on the battlefield. They are also responsible for providing continuing medical care in the absence of a readily available physician, including care for disease and battle injury...
with the Rhodesian Light Infantry. By the Rhodesian Bush War
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
's end, the Rhodesian Light Infantry had three medics Killed in Action and three Wounded in Action.
Death
Coey, whilst deployed with 2 Commando on Operation Hurricane in Kandeya Tribal Trust Land, in RhodesiaRhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
proper, was struck by a gunshot wound, when he went to assist two fallen soldiers in a riverbed on July 19, 1975, with his clearly visible Red Cross flag. This contact resulted in four Rhodesian soldiers being killed and four wounded. He was the first American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
casualty of the Rhodesian Bush War
Rhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
, and of The Crippled Eagles
The Crippled Eagles
The Crippled Eagles was the informal name of a group of American expatriates that fought with the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Rhodesian Bush War. The name and emblem came from author Robin Moore who offered a house in Salisbury as a meeting place for the Americans who served in all units...
. His life, and death had been used for propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
reasons by some radical
Political radicalism
The term political radicalism denotes political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways...
political movements, but himself was never member of any such groups.
In media
- Coey's journal and letters have been published in a book titled A Martyr Speaks.
- During his stay in Rhodesia, he wrote to a number of South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n newspapers under the pseudonym of "Johann Coetzee".
- In a book by Gerald HorneGerald HorneGerald Horne is an African American historian who currently holds the John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston. He received his PhD from Columbia University and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a frequent...
about the American involvement - both pro and con - in the Rhodesian Bush WarRhodesian Bush WarThe Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
, the author interviewed Coey, and pictured him as a strong supporter of the RhodesiaRhodesiaRhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
n cause.