http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

16 March 2014

Obituary of William Crosby Coogan

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(extracted from "West Point A.O.G. Memorials" [NY], c.1956)

WILLIAM C. COOGAN - 1918
Cullum No. 5947 - April 24, 1956 - Died in Phoenix, Arizona

[photo]

William Coogan was born in Massachusetts on December 5, 1893.  All 
of us remember his winning smile and gracious ways which endeared 
him to us and how, throughout his Cadet days, he made life 
brighter for all with whom he came in contact. Early in his career 
his outstanding qualities of leadership were recognized, not only 
by his classmates but by the Tactical Department as well. Selected 
in the first group as a yearling corporal. Bill wore chevrons with 
distinction all through his student years, and seldom was a class 
activity undertaken where he did not play a prominent role.
 
Bill graduated above the middle of his class, yet he chose the 
Infantry hoping for combat service in World War I. When he failed 
to get his wish to serve on the battle fields of Europe, he 
managed to get orders for Siberia and saw active service there 
with the 27th Infantry, after which he was ordered to Europe in 
charge of repatriation of prisoners of war. Returning to the 
United States, Bill found himself assigned to recruiting duty and, 
like so many of his classmates, resigned to enter business which, 
at that time, seemed to offer more of a challenge than the prosaic 
life of a lieutenant in a peacetime army. In civil life, Bill 
pursued a successful career as a real estate broker and as manager 
of construction for a New York firm of architect-engineers, with 
an interlude of service on the staff of the Governor of New York.
 
After 1928, information concerning Bill’s activities is meager and 
efforts to locate him in later years were unavailing. For a time 
he was lost to the class, and perhaps the reason can be found in 
a letter which he wrote in 1947 and which was made available to 
us only after his death. He wrote, ”I have known of very few 
officers who, having made the decision to leave the regular army, 
ever wanted to get back in it. Such was not the case with me. 
Within two or three years of my resignation I was avoiding my 
classmates because all they did was ‘talk shop’ and it made me so 
homesick that I began to wonder if I had not made a mistake.”
 
Bill Coogan truly loved the Service. During World War II he was 
offered a commission as Captain in the Army Air Corps Reserve. A 
Captain’s rank at the age of 48 years doesn’t seem a great 
inducement, yet Bill placed duty and patriotism first and 
accepted the appointment. That he did an outstanding job for his 
Country and his Service is evidenced by the glowing letters of 
commendation which he received and by his promotions, always as 
an exception to policy, which followed steadily along to include 
the grade of Colonel. The Air Corps had found its man. Whenever 
there were difficulties in training or administration of a base, 
Bill was placed on an airplane and sent to the trouble spot with 
the kind of orders which he loved: “Go down and straighten that 
mess out.” And he did just that. As the end of his active service 
approached, Bill was still trying for reappointment in the 
Regular Army, but his age and the inflexibility of the law 
governing reappointments precluded his reinstatement. His awards 
attest the value of his services. They include the French Croix 
de Guerre, the New York State Conspicious Service Cross, and 
three awards of the Army Commendation Ribbon.
 
As far as is known, Bill had no living relatives, but it is 
comforting to know of the love and esteem in which he was held by 
the family of Dr. and Mrs. F. I. Milloy of Phoenix, Arizona. Not 
only was he treated as a member of their family where he was 
affectionately known as “Uncle Bill,” but his health was watched 
over and his life undoubtedly prolonged through the services of 
Dr. Milloy, (since deceased).
 
It is a sad turn of fate that we could locate Bill only after his 
death. He now has joined “The Army of the Bles’t,” but those of 
us who survive him are the richer for having known him. We cherish 
his memory and the inspiration he bequeathed us in his unselfish 
life, in his devotion to duty, and in his loyalty to his Alma 
Mater.
 
William Crosby Coogan died at Phoenix, Arizona on April 24th, 1956 
and is buried in the Military Plot of the local cemetery. 

http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/5947/

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