Reed Presents Family of WWII Navy & Korean War Army Veteran with Posthumous Military Honors

CRANSTON, RI - A late veteran of both World War II and the Korean War is being posthumously recognized for his service to the nation. 80 years after the late Benjamin J. Coccia served in the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II and nearly 75 years after he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army following service in the Korean War, U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee and a former U.S. Army officer, today held a special ceremony of remembrance to celebrate Mr. Coccia's remarkable service to the nation and present his family with the military honors he earned.

Mr. Coccia passed away in 2013 at the age of 85.

Today, family members recounted Benjamin's tremendous love of family and dedication to his community as a proud member of the Barrington American Legion, Post #8. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 18, Benjamin left his family's home in Warren and went on to serve in the Pacific just two months after the Japanese surrendered during World War II. Serving on the USS Silverstein (DE 534), a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort, Seaman First Class Coccia sailed between Guam, the Marshall Islands, Pearl Harbor, and San Diego, California as part of a supervising convoy as the hostilities of World War II came to an end.

Mr. Coccia once again answered the call to service in September 1950, enlisting in the U.S. Army as a Private First Class just three months after the start of the Korean War. At Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Mr. Coccia received training as a radar technician and went on to serve in Korea with the U.S. Army Field Artillery, a branch that served with significant importance during the war. Eventually rising to the rank of Corporal, Mr. Coccia was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in August of 1952.

"Not many people serve in both the Army and Navy. But Benjamin Coccia selflessly served our nation in two different branches spanning two different wars. When he returned home from service, he helped fellow veterans and strengthened his community as a proud member of Barrington American Legion, Post #8 and as an employee of the Town of Barrington. Today, we recognize his exemplary conduct and loyal service to our nation. It is clear that Mr. Coccia went above and beyond the call of duty in all he did," said Senator Reed. "It is my honor to salute his service and present his family with the military honors that he earned in service to the nation."

"Today, I am very proud of my dad. I wish we had talked more about his service while he was still with us. I am very happy that our family will forever have these medals to share with future generations and remind us of his service to our nation," said Ms. Gail Lamorge, Mr. Coccia's daughter. "Our family is very grateful to Senator Reed and his staff for their assistance in locating and connecting us with these military honors for my dad."

Discharged from the U.S. Navy at the end of World War II and before enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Mr. Coccia married the love of his life, Margaret, and began to raise his family in Warren. After completing his service, Mr. Coccia went on to work for the Town of Barrington. Married for 61 years, Mr. and Mrs. Coccia raised two children and were loving grandparents to four granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 404,000 American veterans served in both World War II and the Korean War.

Today, Senator Reed presented Mr. Coccia's family with several medals and commendations he earned during World War II and the Korean War, including:

• World War II Victory Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star
• United Nations Service Medal

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