Edward L. Cofield's Army records revealed that he enlisted during the Spanish American War at Litchfield, Illinois as a Musician with K Company, 8th Illinois Infantry (Colored) on 6-28-1898 at the age of 21 8/12 years old. He deployed to Santiago, Cuba on the USS Yale, and his regiment was assigned the mission of cleaning up the battlefield with graves registration support near Santiago and San Juan Hill. This was followed by road construction, provost marshall duties and guarding 5,000 Spanish Prisoners of War near San Luis, Cuba. He was reflected as 5'4" tall, 148 lbs, with the occupation of steamboat crewman. His only guardian was listed as Gidd Cobb of Smithland, Kentucky, where he was born. On 7-15-1898, Musician Cofield was reduced to Private. He mustered out of the US Army in Chicago, Illinois on 4-3-1899 with character of service rated as excellent. He was awarded the Spanish War Service Medal and the Cuban Occupation Medal. While in Tennessee, he filed for an invalid's pension in 1906. The US Census revealed that he was living in Green Cove Springs, Florida in 1920 with his wife, Virginia. His profession was reflected as a merchant with his wife listed as a saleswoman. He subsequently divorced and was reflected in the 1930 Census as a taxi driver. He passed away in Palatka, Florida in 1933.
WHAT IS A VETERAN?
A 'veteran' - whether active duty,
discharged, retired, or reserve -
is someone who, at one point in their
life, wrote a blank check made payable
to 'The United States of America,' for
an amount of 'up to, and including their
life.'
That is honor, and there are way too many
people in this country today, who no longer
understand that fact.
SOLDIER
"I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness...should I fail. I have seen the face of Terror; felt the stinging cold of Fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's Love. I have cried, pained, and hoped...but most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least someday I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was...A Soldier."
George L. Skypeck, CPT, US Army
Note: ***PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE PERSONAL PHOTOS OR PLACE THIS MEMORIAL ON OTHER WEBSITES WITHOUT PERMISSION***
WHAT IS A VETERAN?
A 'veteran' - whether active duty,
discharged, retired, or reserve -
is someone who, at one point in their
life, wrote a blank check made payable
to 'The United States of America,' for
an amount of 'up to, and including their
life.'
That is honor, and there are way too many
people in this country today, who no longer
understand that fact.
SOLDIER
"I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness...should I fail. I have seen the face of Terror; felt the stinging cold of Fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's Love. I have cried, pained, and hoped...but most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least someday I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was...A Soldier."
George L. Skypeck, CPT, US Army
Note: ***PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE PERSONAL PHOTOS OR PLACE THIS MEMORIAL ON OTHER WEBSITES WITHOUT PERMISSION***
Edward L. Cofield's Army records revealed that he enlisted during the Spanish American War at Litchfield, Illinois as a Musician with K Company, 8th Illinois Infantry (Colored) on 6-28-1898 at the age of 21 8/12 years old. He deployed to Santiago, Cuba on the USS Yale, and his regiment was assigned the mission of cleaning up the battlefield with graves registration support near Santiago and San Juan Hill. This was followed by road construction, provost marshall duties and guarding 5,000 Spanish Prisoners of War near San Luis, Cuba. He was reflected as 5'4" tall, 148 lbs, with the occupation of steamboat crewman. His only guardian was listed as Gidd Cobb of Smithland, Kentucky, where he was born. On 7-15-1898, Musician Cofield was reduced to Private. He mustered out of the US Army in Chicago, Illinois on 4-3-1899 with character of service rated as excellent. He was awarded the Spanish War Service Medal and the Cuban Occupation Medal. While in Tennessee, he filed for an invalid's pension in 1906. The US Census revealed that he was living in Green Cove Springs, Florida in 1920 with his wife, Virginia. His profession was reflected as a merchant with his wife listed as a saleswoman. He subsequently divorced and was reflected in the 1930 Census as a taxi driver. He passed away in Palatka, Florida in 1933.
WHAT IS A VETERAN?
A 'veteran' - whether active duty,
discharged, retired, or reserve -
is someone who, at one point in their
life, wrote a blank check made payable
to 'The United States of America,' for
an amount of 'up to, and including their
life.'
That is honor, and there are way too many
people in this country today, who no longer
understand that fact.
SOLDIER
"I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness...should I fail. I have seen the face of Terror; felt the stinging cold of Fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's Love. I have cried, pained, and hoped...but most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least someday I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was...A Soldier."
George L. Skypeck, CPT, US Army
Note: ***PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE PERSONAL PHOTOS OR PLACE THIS MEMORIAL ON OTHER WEBSITES WITHOUT PERMISSION***
WHAT IS A VETERAN?
A 'veteran' - whether active duty,
discharged, retired, or reserve -
is someone who, at one point in their
life, wrote a blank check made payable
to 'The United States of America,' for
an amount of 'up to, and including their
life.'
That is honor, and there are way too many
people in this country today, who no longer
understand that fact.
SOLDIER
"I was that which others did not want to be. I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness...should I fail. I have seen the face of Terror; felt the stinging cold of Fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's Love. I have cried, pained, and hoped...but most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least someday I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was...A Soldier."
George L. Skypeck, CPT, US Army
Note: ***PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THE PERSONAL PHOTOS OR PLACE THIS MEMORIAL ON OTHER WEBSITES WITHOUT PERMISSION***
Inscription
Company K, 8 Illinois Infantry. Spanish American War.
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