More detail on this person: Lt. Colonel, Eric J. Coady, USMC (Ret.), was born on April 19, 1939 in Philadelphia, PA. He entered enlisted service in the Marine Corps in 1956 and was accepted into the NAVCAD program in 1959. In October of 1960, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and designated a Naval Aviator. His first assignment was to MCAF, Santa Ana where he served tours with HMR (L) -363 and HMR (L)-163 until September 1964. After serving with HMM-163 for 25 months, twelve of those spent in Vietnam, he transferred to Pensacola where then Captain Coady served as a flight instructor and a military instructor for 3 years. At the end of that tour from November 1966 until December 1967, he served tours with HMM-161, HMM-361, and HMM-363 again in Vietnam. From January 1968 to August 1968 then, Captain Coady attended the Basic Air Intelligence Officers Course, after graduation he was assigned to FMFLant for Intelligence duty. From January to July of 1970 he attended Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico, VA, and after graduation, served tours with HMX-1, H&HS-1, HWHG-1 1st MAW, and HML-367. Returning from his third tour in Vietnam, Major Coady attended Auburn University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management. In October of 1973, Major Coady was assigned to HQCO at FMF PAC in Honolulu, HI as the Asst. Force Inspector and Protocol Officer. Major Coady was assigned to H&MS-24 in October of 1975 and served as the Executive Officer. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel on October 1, 1976 and served as the Commanding Officer of H&MS-24 for 18 months. Then Lieutenant Colonel Coady was assigned to Iwakuni, Japan, First Marine Air Wing, Pacific. He assumed Command of Headquarters and Ground Maintenance Squadron-17 and served as Commanding Officer from Aug. 1977 to Aug. 1978. At that time he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., where he served as Officer in Charge of Individual Aviation Officer Training in the Aviation Officer Training Office. Lt. Colonel Coady retired in 1981 with over 25 years of service to his Country. His medals and decorations include: three Distinguished Flying Crosses; 46 Air Medals; one Individual Air Medal; two Navy Commendation Medals with Combat V and others. After retirement from the military in 1981, Lt. Colonel Coady worked with several Defense Contractors in the Washington, D.C. area during the Reagan administration, most notably the Star Wars program. In 1994 he and his wife, Sandra moved to Pensacola, where he entered the University of West Florida and received his Masters in Education in 1999. He taught for 7 years at the Adult High School at Pensacola Junior College, now Pensacola State College, as an Adjunct Instructor in Enviromnental Science and Math. During that time, he was selected as Adjunct Instructor of the Year in 2004. He was very proud to have been a teacher and had great respect for all those who dedicate their lives to teaching America's youth. Lt. Colonel Coady was preceded in death by: his father, Colonel James Francis Coady USMC (Ret.); his mother, Virginia C. Coady; and brothers, Mark Coady and David Raynor Coady. Survivors include: his loving wife of 51 years, Sandra M. Coady; his sisters, Leah Tomlinson (Len) and Christy Ogg (John); brothers, Patrick R. Coady (Barbara) and Edward J. Coady; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until funeral service begins at 10:45 a.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012 at the Aviation Chapel, aboard NAS Pensacola with Rev. Ken Griffin officiating. Burial will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery. Trahan Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Lt. Colonel Coady was, first and foremost a United States Marine. He believed in his God and his Country, both of which he served everyday to the best of his ability. He believed in individual freedom for all and did not fail to put his life on the line upholding that right. He was proud of his service to his Country and his fellow man. He was diagnosed with melanoma in June 2010 and was accepted into an experimental drug program at the Kirklin Cancer Clinic, Birmingham, AL. The drug he was taking has since been approved for treatment of melanoma by the FDA. The drug was credited with prolonging his life by several months. Lt. Colonel Coady, not only used his God-given-skills to save many lives as a United States Marine Corp pilot in Vietnam, but he can be credited with saving many lives, now and in the future through his participation in the University of Alabama in Birmingham Kirklin Clinic Cancer Research studies. Lt. Colonel Coady will be lovingly missed by many. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Olive Baptist Church, Building Fund. Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits Published in Pensacola News Journal on February 5, 2012
Burial information: Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL
This information was last updated 08/26/2017
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