2nd MLG Marine, family shares experience about Corps

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (May 26, 2006) -- A few strokes on the keyboard, a little know-how and Cpl. Mack Coffman solves a technical problem brought to him by a Marine who was unable to complete a daunting and tedious task of reconfiguring a network. Without Marines like Coffman, procedures leading to operational readiness would slow down the Marine Corps extensively.

Coffman, with Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, is a data network specialist. With three years under his belt in the Corps, he has traveled across many oceans and has had many positive experiences.

“Being a (data network specialist) is good job to have,” Coffman said. “On a day-to-day basis I handle computer problems with anything from running programs to fixing a network.”

Coffman, like many others, joined the Marine Corps after graduating high school.

“I wanted to join the Marine Corps to see the world outside Pennsylvania,” the Chippewa, Pa., native said. “Out of all of the services, I joined the Corps because this branch’s reputation is known for having the toughest (servicemembers).”

Coffman placed his feet on the famed yellow footprints of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island during September 2003, and explained his most memorable moment came at the end of recruit training when he finally saw his family again.

“Everyone was shocked when they first saw me,” Coffman explained. “It is not that I was ever a bad kid growing up, it was just that after boot camp that my family noticed I stood a little taller.”

He went on to Twentynine Palms, Calif., to attend the data network specialist course for his Military Occupational Specialty.

“I remember learning a lot of acronyms,” Coffman said laughing. “I was taught the basics of my job, just like any other Marine going to any MOS school. We all know that the real knowledge comes once you actually apply it when you are stationed somewhere.”

His first duty station was Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. This was an opportune place to hone not only his occupation, but also his basic understanding of how Marines conduct themselves outside a training environment.

“I love Okinawa,” he said. “Before I went, I heard a lot of bad things about the place. It may have been rough for awhile, but once you leave the island you realize how awesome of a duty station it is. How many chances can you say ‘I lived in Japan.’”

After serving a year overseas, he changed duty stations to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he discovered that his new unit operated much differently from his previous one.

“My shop in Okinawa had more than 50 Marines,” he said. “Here at Lejeune, we have six. Working here is much easier because you don’t have as many stressed out Marines shouting at you to do something.”

Four months after arriving here, he received word that he would be flying to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom which established mixed feelings from his family.

“I still remember when he told me he was leaving for Iraq,” said Coffman’s mother, Johanna. “I was on my way to work and he called to tell me he would be leaving within a couple days. I had to pull over because I was crying my eyes out.”

Although she supported him completely, it was still difficult to accept during a time of war. His wife, Cpl. Amanda K. Coffman, a Spanish cryptologic linguist with A Company, 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, understood his position.

“It didn’t hit me he was leaving until he set foot on the bus to leave,” Amanda said. “I was kind of depressed at first because I was worried like any wife would be. It wasn’t so bad when I was able to talk to him on the phone or e-mail as often as we did.”

Coffman and his wife figured if they could go a year without seeing each other while he was in Okinawa, then they could make it through a six-month deployment to Iraq.

While in Iraq, Coffman performed his job as well as participating in convoys and patrolling operations.

“Living in Iraq is the simple life,” Coffman admitted. “You did your job, drank a lot of Red Bull and called home. It wasn’t as difficult as I originally thought.”

Coffman had the unprivileged experience of being in four patrols that were deterred by improvised explosive devices.

“The first time I saw an IED detonate, I felt like I was in a movie, very surreal,” he explained. “We got out of the vehicle and secured the area. All the training I had before coming to Iraq was worth it. I knew what to do and how to do it. I never felt more like a Marine in my life.”

While in Iraq, he remained in constant contact with his family, however, his mother says she was given the run-around about what he fully experienced.

“It freaked me out when I found out he was going on convoys all along,” she said. “He told me he stayed inside the wire the whole time. I guess he was just trying not to freak me out.”

Once he stepped foot back in the country, he explained there is nothing better than being back home.

“I appreciated smelling fresh air again, walking under the trees, on grass and eating good old fashion American food,” he said. “But, the best part of it was seeing my wife and family again. They are the ones that keep me going day after day while I am in the Corps. I truly am grateful.”