Ronald Coker, who received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam Conflict, is one of Nebraska’s Medal of Honor recipients to be recognized during Walk the Walk, an event organized by the Nebraska Medal of Honor Foundation.
The event consists of walking the span of Highway 20 in Nebraska, which was designated by Governor Pete Ricketts as the Medal of Honor Highway. The event began on May 11 at the border of Wyoming and is set to cover 432 miles. Each six-mile stretch of the walk recognizes a different Nebraska Medal of Honor recipient, starting with the Civil War.
The stretch of the walk recognizing Coker is expected to take place on May 21 between Osmond and Laurel. Private First Class Coker, according to an article in the Alliance Times-Herald published in 1981, received the Medal of Honor posthumously on April 20, 1970 for his heroic efforts to save an injured comrade. The citation presenting the Medal of Honor to Coker states that while in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam on March 24, 1969, he encountered five enemy soldiers on a trail.
“Reacting instantly, he warned the Marines following him and wounded one of the enemy soldiers with his M16 rifle. When the enemy retreated, Private First Class Coker’s squad aggressively pursued them to cave. As the squad neared the cave, it came under intense hostile fire, seriously wounding one Marine and forcing the others to take cover. Observing the wounded man lying exposed to continuous enemy fire, Private First Class Coker disregarded his own safety and moved across the fire-swept terrain toward his companion,” the citation stated.
Despite being wounded by small arms fire, he continued crawling to reach the wounded man, throwing a hand grenade into the enemy positions and suppressing their fire long enough to allow him to reach the man.
“As he began to drag his injured comrade out of the enemy’s killing zone, a hostile grenade landed on the wounded Marine. Unhesitatingly, Private First Class Coker grabbed the grenade with both hands and turned away from his wounded companion but, before he could dispose of the grenade it exploded. Severely wounded but undaunted he refused to abandon his comrade. As he moved toward friendly lines, two more enemy grenades exploded near him inflicting still further injuries. Possessed only with the safety of his comrade, Private First Class Coker, with supreme effort, continued to attempt to crawl and pull the wounded Marine with him,” the citation stated.
His actions inspired his fellow Marines to take aggressive action against the enemy soldiers, allowing others to reach Coker and the wounded man, and carry them to safety, where Coker succumbed to his wounds.
“Private First Class Coker’s indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country,” the citation stated.