Jerry Coleman was one of the best fielding second basemen in major league history. He was a part of the legendary Yankees dynasty of the late 40s and 1950s. He was a major league manager, and a Hall of Fame broadcaster. But he was also something more, much more. The “Colonel” (he retired from the Marine Corps Reserve in 1964 as a Lieutenant Colonel) was a combat pilot in World War II and again in Korea.

Completing the V-5 Program, Coleman flew SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers with VMSB-341 from the Solomons in 1944 and then in the Philippines until July of 1945. He flew 57 missions in all. After the war he resumed his baseball career, and made the Yankees roster in 1948. Called up again for Korea, Coleman transitioned to F4U-4 Corsairs, and flew 63 missions of ground support with the famous “Death Rattlers” of VMF-323. He also served as a forward air controller before returning stateside in 1953.

Coleman retired as a player with the Yankees in 1957. He is the only major leaguer to see combat in two wars, flying a total of 120 missions between World War II and Korea. He was always known as an intelligent, kind, and thoughtful gentleman, a figure truly beloved in New York and his native San Diego. Not something you find very often in the profession of sport.

Jerry Coleman was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and thirteen Air Medals for his wartime service. Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Coleman, USMCR (Ret.) was a true hero. Semper Fidelis, Colonel. Baseball, and our country, is poorer for your loss.

http://xbradtc.com/2014/01/05/jerry-cole...ars-dies-at-89/

God bless you and RIP, Mr Coleman. Thank you for your service to our country.

He is the only major leaguer to see combat in two wars... That may be technically correct but there was another major leaguer who served as a Marine aviator in both WWII and Korea and that was Ted Williams. Williams, however, did not, so far as I can tell, serve in any combat mission in the former but did in the latter. This is not meant to detract from the service record of Mr Coleman but merely to set the record straight.

Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #4

---

God bless you and RIP, Mr Coleman. Thank you for your service to our country.

He is the only major leaguer to see combat in two wars... That may be technically correct but there was another major leaguer who served as a Marine aviator in both WWII and Korea and that was Ted Williams. Williams, however, did not, so far as I can tell, serve in any combat mission in the former but did in the latter. This is not meant to detract from the service record of Mr Coleman but merely to set the record straight.

---