Program on Coming Home

STRONG FOR VETERANS is an all-volunteer non-profit focused on Leadership, Strength, and Community. We support Veterans and their Families by creating a platform that brings different resources together, enabling collaboration to better serve the Veteran community. Our events are free and all are welcome.

Join us for a very special evening of memories, reflection, and insight. Non-profits serving Veterans and their Families will also attend.

We are excited to add a Veterans Town Hall to our program. If there is interest, we would be very glad to host town halls as part of our programs going forward. Please see details below.

DETAILED EVENT & SPEAKER INFORMATION

Date, Time, Place

• 14 November 2018 – Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205
• 5:30 p.m. – Reception
• 7:00 p.m. – Program
• 9:00 p.m. – Wrap up

Presentation Speakers

• • Former POW Lieutenant Colonel Tony Marshall, USAF, Retired – Tony Marshall was born in Washington, DC in 1946, and raised on a tobacco farm in nearby Maryland. He was accepted by the US Air Force Academy, graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. He completed Navigator training and Electronic Warfare Training and was assigned to the F-4 fighter aircraft. Following training at MacDill AFB, Florida, he was assigned to the 13th Squadron, Udorn Airbase, Thailand, flying combat missions in Southeast Asia. On his 266th mission he was forced to eject over enemy territory and was captured. A Captain at the time, Tony was held as a POW from July 3, 1972 until his release on March 29, 1973. Upon his return to active duty, Captain Marshall completed pilot training and was assigned to the F-4C at George AFB, California. He flew the F-4D at RAF Bentwaters, England, and then served as an Air Liaison Officer with the US Army in Frankfurt, Germany. He returned to the cockpit flying the F-4G Wild Weasel at Clark AB, The Philippines and George AFB, California. After 22 years of service he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel, Command Pilot, with 480 hours of combat time, 3000 hours in the F-4, and 3600 hours total military flying time. His military awards include 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and 16 Air Medals. Following his retirement from active duty in 1990, Tony was hired by United Airlines and logged 12,000 hours flying the DC10, B747, and A320 aircraft out of Los Angeles. He retired from United in December 2006. Tony is a member of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) and a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (TAI).
  • Grant Coffey – Gold Star Dad, Father of Keaton Coffey. Marine Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey, 22, of Boring, Oregon was assigned to 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, 1st Marine Headquarters Group, Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. He died May 24, 2012 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations. Grant Coffey, a retired Portland Fire Battalion Chief and longtime coordinator of the Hazardous Materials Team, is honored to serve as President of Tribute to Honor, a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 2001 right after the 9/11 New York tragedy and expanded in 2017 to include US Military and their families.

VETERANS TOWN HALL

Taking inspiration from Sebastian Junger’s TRIBE: On Homecoming and Belonging, SFV is excited to host a Veterans Town Hall as part of our evening programs. This is a closed event for Veterans to share their stories with the Veteran community. Light refreshments will be served.

• • 14 Nov – Oregon Historical Society Hatfield Room – 1500-1800
  • Veterans only
  • No photos
  • No recordings
  • No sharing Veterans’ stories outside the room
  • No exceptions