Following ancestral generations from three continents evolving to Chicago, Illinois in 1827, thirty-eight years before the end of our Civil War and following a family tradition of every male family member serving in the United States military, Phillip Coleman served our Nation when duty called. His father, Lavalle Coleman Sr., served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WW2 and later in the new USAF.
Cu Chi RVN
At age eighteen, having assimilated hundreds of years of duty, honor, country wisdom and patriotism passed down from generation-to-generation, Phill, and his brother of ten months senior, Lavalle Jr. (Terry), enlisted in the United States Army at the height of anti-Vietnam War protests in 1968. Both brothers volunteered for duty in Vietnam where they completed full, 12 month tours-of-duty.
Because of his high security military occupation and combat necessity, Phill served in Vietnam prior to his elder brother Terry. Phill's combat duty was served between August 1969 to August 1970. Terry received his Vietnam orders on the same day Phill returned from Vietnam. Terry served in Nha Trang in support of the 5th Special Forces Group and other agencies between September 1970 to September 1971. After Vietnam Terry served on active duty for another five years in various Department of Defense/Strategic Air Command intelligence capacities.
 The Daily Breeze, Torrance CA |
In 1991, Phill Coleman's life story was acquired for feature film by Universal Studios [*], Sean Daniel and James Jacks, Producers; Floyd Mutrux Executive Producer; William Morris Agency's John Ptak, acquisition manager.
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[*] (Many thanks Casey Silver and Lew Wasserman who gave their unlimited support and confidence to the great-great grandnephew of the man who also did the right thing for a fellow Chicagoan who vehemently opposed organized crime involvement in narcotics.)
Throughout his public service Phill was privileged to serve with and for many fine and patriotic men and women. Of those, Phill especially thanks Harry Robert Haldeman (1926-1993) for his friendship and support.
Phill also thanks his former business partner, Mary Catherine Flint of Long Beach CA, for her devoted help and support during his continued federal service... and never asking any questions.
Phill currently serves as Senior Librarian of The American War Library and Editor-in-Chief of DEA Watch. The American War Library was established in 1988. It remains the world's largest online military personnel registry with over 71 million personnel and unit listings. DEA Watch, established in 1996, serves as the daily voice of America's Drug Enforcement Agents.
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