SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Each month SylacaugaNews.com and Yea!106.5 feature a veteran online and on-air, honoring them for their service to our country. The SylacaugaNews.com and Yea!06.5 Veteran of the Month presented by Radney-Smith Funeral Home for December is William “Bill” Coker.
*note SN is abbreviated Sylacauganews.com, BC is abbreviated for our featured veteran, Bill Coker.
SN: What is your full name?
BC: William Herston Coker
SN: What is your date of birth?
BC: August 19, 1954
SN: What was your rank?
BC: Sargent First Class E4.
SN: What was your branch of service?
BC: Army
SN: What was your job?
BC: I was an artilleryman throughout my whole career.
SN: When did you serve?
BC: I came in the Army in August 1972 and retired in August 1992.
SN: Where did you serve? Stateside or overseas?
BC: I spent nine years in Germany and the rest of my time was stateside.
SN: What do you remember most about your time serving?
BC: Originally when I joined the Army, I had a contract to go to Vietnam when I graduated from training. During that time, the President ordered no more troops to Vietnam, so I didn’t get to go. I ended up basically doing my tour in Germany. All the school and training I got in the military and getting to see the world because even though I was stationed here, I went a lot of other places, too.
SN: If you could say anything to those who want to serve, what would you tell them?
BC: First of all, I tell everyone it’s not for everybody. The military helps people learn how to be a better person, and teaches you how to cope and deal with a lot of basic things in life. It does make you a better person over the years, and if you feel like you want to make a career out of it, continue on because it pays off at the end and it helps you out throughout the rest of your life.
SN: Would you do it again if you could and why?
BC: Probably not because I would have done other things. I would have gotten a better education for one. I was involved in sports a lot and education wasn’t my number one thing. I would have gotten a better education and continued my life in another style, but I’m happy with what happened.
Congratulations to Bill Coker, our Veteran of the Month for December 2018.
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