Roll Call Tribute

James Gilbert Coston, Sr.
February 11, 1937 - April 17, 2020

James Gilbert Coston, Sr. passed away quietly April 17, 2020 after a long struggle with dementia. He left Behind a wife of 62 years, Jeanette, and four children: Jimmy and Jan Coston, Cindy and Sheldon Grooms, Terri and John Robertson and Jeannie and Jeff Harden-Nowaczyk; nine grandchildren, Kyle Robertson, Trey and Criss Robertson, Cody and Alex Robertson, Jacob and Hollie Alvarez, Kaci and John Lister, Joshua Harden, Emily Coston, Benjamin Grooms and Andrea Grooms.

He was born in Wenatchee, Washington. James attended Brackenridge High School until his senior year when he went to Saudi Arabia with his parents, where his dad worked for the Arabian American Oil Company. He spent his senior year of high school at the Lebanon American High School where he graduated in 1954. He returned to the states to attend the University of Maryland for one year before attending Texas A&M, where he graduated in 1959. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. into the Army. His army career led him to Germany, Ft. Knox, two tours in Vietnam (1967-1968 and 1970-1971), University of Kentucky as Professor of Military Science and Ft. Hood where he was discharged as a Major. He was employed at Southwest Research Institute as a technical writer and editor from 1979 until retirement in 1995. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal w/4 Bronze Service Stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnamese Armor Badge, Vietnamese Staff Medal, First Class, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/Palm, Air Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

He loved his family dearly, as indicated in his letters to them when he was in Vietnam. He wrote to them every day and expressed his great love for his wife and children. He was loved and will be sorely missed.

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