George Thomas Coker

George Thomas Coker (born July 14, 1943) is a retired United States Navy commander who was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as a prisoner of war (POW) during the Vietnam War. An Eagle Scout, he is noted for his devotion to Scouting.

In 1966, the A-6 Intruder jet on which Coker was serving as co-pilot, bombardier, and navigator, was shot down over North Vietnam. He was held as a prisoner of war in the "Hanoi Hilton" and other camps for six and a half years. After his release, he continued to serve in the Navy until his retirement in 1986.

Personal information George Coker was born in Amarillo, Texas, on July 14, 1943. In 1951, his family moved to Linden, New Jersey, where he became a New Jersey high school state wrestling champion in the 142 lb weight class and played high school varsity football at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey. He also told the National League of Families that the circumstances of flyers lost over remote, rugged, jungle terrain meant “‘You’re going to say suddenly the likelihood of a POW in Laos is near zero.’”

Post-naval service In addition to continued Scouting activities, Coker has been involved in supporting ex–POWs for many years. In December 2004, he was elected commander of his local POW chapter, the Tidewater ex-POW Association. In 2008, he was also serving as the head of a Virginia state ex–POW association.