Lt. Paul C. Coffin Jr.

279th Inf.-45 Div

Killed in action October 8 1952. My mother's brother and my uncle.

Memorial Day. 2020

He was running telephone cable to a forward position and stepped on a land mine. In his captain's letter to the grieving family the captain said that death was instant. I don't believe that. I believe it was brutal and terrifying beyond words.

War is ugly business. The grief radiates for generations.