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 THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

WASHINGTON D. C. 20350

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER GEORGE T. COKER UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following


 * CITATION:


 * For extraordinary herosism during an extremely daring escape from a solitary confinement cell while a Prisoner of War in Hanoi, North Vietnam on 12 October 1967. During a period of particularly harsh treatment, he and another prisoner executed an escape as a two-man team despite the high risk of brutal reprisal or possible loss of life. That night, after opening the cell door by removing door bolt brackets from inside the room, he proceeded over the wall and through several blocks of housing to the Domer Bridge. Walking under the bridge to the Red River's edge, he swam downstream all night and at sunrise buried himself in a mudbank in an effort to remain concealed. He was later discovered, recaptured, severely beaten for many hours, and banished to solitary confinement for two and a half years. His extraordinary courage, aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, and dedication to his country reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and United States Armed Forces.