FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The Fort Carson community will gather to remember Barry Coker, a retired first sergeant and logistics management specialist for Army Field Support Battalion -- Carson, at 2 p.m. Aug. 13, 2015, at Soldiers' Memorial Chapel. Coker passed away July 17, 2015.
Coker's career embodied the spirit of duty, honor and loyalty. In his 21 years of service in the Army as a materiel storage handling specialist, he served in multiple locations including tours in Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait where he participated in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He retired from military service in 2004 as a first sergeant in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
"He was one of the first NCOs who really taught me what it meant to be a noncommissioned officer," said Lt. Col. Lanny Hogaboom, commander of the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st SBCT, 4th Infantry Division. Hogaboom has known Coker for 19 years.
"He was a guy who gave me a sense of understanding and purpose for what it means to support the warfighter," he said. "He really was a phenomenal noncommissioned officer."
During his years of service, Coker's awards included the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal, in addition to earning the Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Pistol bar, Air Assault Badge and Drivers and Mechanic Badge with Driver bar.
In his civilian role as a logistics management specialist in support of 1st SBCT, Coker continued his dedication to serving Soldiers.
"He was the kind of guy you could count on, and if he didn't have the kind of answer you required, he knew somebody who did. He was like the one-stop shop for all the Soldiers," said Kurt Mihm, Tank and Automotive Command armament logistical assistance representative. "He took a lot of his personal time to make sure the Soldiers got what they needed. It's a great loss … those are big boots to fill."
As a Department of the Army civilian, Coker earned the U.S. Army Sustainment Command Highly Productive Achievement Award in 2012 and the Army Demonstrated Master Logistician designation in 2013. He held a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Columbia University and a master's degree in business and management from Colorado Technical University.
Coker is survived by his wife of 30 years, Linda D. Coker; his mother, Margie DeAtley; and his three brothers, Troy, Kevin and Mark.
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