 Metro, 27 July 2020 |
Remember...Michael Linn Cooper
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Michael Linn Cooper was born March 1, 1949, to his parents Eula T. Cooper and Joseph A. Cooper. While he was born in Charleston, West Virginia, he spent most of his life right outside of Charleston in the community of Chesapeake, where he grew up along with his two brothers Joseph and David C. and his sister Sandra L. Cooper Riggs. Michael's father worked at the E.I. Dupont Plant in Belle. Mr. Bradshaw, a close family friend, described Michael as "a small, blond-haired boy, full of life and loved by everyone." He attended East Bank High School and graduated in 1967. Directly after graduation he enlisted in the Marines and had plans to attend college and use the GI Bill to pay for it once he returned home.
| Michael was born during the baby boom, which occurred after the conclusion of World War II. This was a time period where over 79 million babies were born between the years of 1946 and 1964, due in part to the aid of GI benefits and the celebration of parenthood and larger families by pop culture. He grew up in Chesapeake, West Virginia, during the 1950s and 60s. The population of Chesapeake according to the 1960 census was 2,699, during his teenage years.
("Chesapeake, West Virginia," Wikipedia, last edited 31 December 2020, accessed 24 March 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake,_West_Virginia.)
During the 1960s, the United States was going through the civil rights movement, a struggle for social justice by Black Americans to gain equal rights under the law in the United States. On top of that the United States was involved in the Vietnam War during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. |
 Courtesy Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
The Vietnam War was a conflict between communist North Vietnam and democratic South Vietnam. The U.S. fought with its ally South Vietnam during this conflict. Active U.S. involvement was officially established in August of 1964. There were more than three million casualties (over 58,000 American); however, the majority were Vietnamese citizens. The 27th Marine Regiment was reactivated on January 1, 1966. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. After the Tet Offensive in 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson increased the presence of U.S. troops in Vietnam and the 27th Marines were some of the troops sent by the United States. The Tet Offensive was a coordinated attack on South Vietnam by North Vietnam that occurred during the lunar holiday of Tet, which was previously an informal day of ceasefire between the two sides; however, this did not stop North Vietnam from launching a surprise attack. ("Vietnam War," History.com, 29 October 2009, last updated 19 August 2020, accessed 24 March 2021, https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-history.)
Michael enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on August 9, 1967, in Ashland, Kentucky. His service number was 2356448. Shortly thereafter he departed for Basic and Infantry Training. Lance Corporal (LCpl) Cooper, nickname Sleeper, began his tour of duty in Vietnam on February 16, 1968. His military occupation skills (MOS) was 0311 (Rifleman), and he was assigned to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force.
In August 1968, his battalion was assigned to patrol the "Rocket Belt," an area that surrounded Da Nang Military Complex in Quang Nam Province. The infantry's mission was to conduct combat patrols to seek and destroy the Viet Cong. On August 24, 1968, during a joint operation with the 51st Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Regiment in the vicinity of the Qua Giang village complex and the Cam Le Bridge, the Marines engaged the enemy in an intense battle.
According to Gunner Sergeant Hoffa, "LCpl Cooper was with the 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon of Echo Company and was walking point when he hit a booby trap. The area the platoon was in was well known for booby traps and ambushes. Gunny Hoffa (then Sgt. Hoffa) assisted the Corpsman, Doc Patterson, by taking apart his pen and using it to make a trac (tracheotomy) on LCpl Cooper. During this time a medevac (Medical Evacuation) helicopter was attempting to land; however, there was firing going on and the chopper refused to land. Once the firing was stopped the chopper landed and picked up LCpl Cooper." Unfortunately, LCpl Michael Linn Cooper was killed in action during the battle after receiving multiple fragmentation wounds at the young age of 19. ("Cooper, Michael Linn, LCpl," TogetherWeServed, accessed 24 March 2021, https://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=126310.)
 Courtesy Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
LCpl Michael Linn Cooper's remains were recovered and returned to the U.S., where he was laid to rest in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Some of the awards that he could have possibly earned are: the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marksmanship Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Medal, and the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. ("Michael Linn Cooper," HonorStates.org, accessed 24 March 2021, https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=267629.) |
| LCpl Michael Linn Cooper is memorialized at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Panel W46, Line 1, as well as on the West Virginia Veterans Memorial in Charleston, West Virginia. On January 10, 2020, the West Virginia legislature introduced House Concurrent Resolution No 4, wherein they renamed the Lower Fields Creek Bridge, carrying County Route 71/1 over Fields Creek in Kanawha County, to the "U. S. Marine Corps LCpl Michael Linn Cooper Memorial Bridge." The bridge stands less than 100 yards away from his childhood home in Winifrede Hollow. |
 Courtesy Maura McGhee |
Article prepared by Haleema Boukhemis and Maura McGhee, George Washington High School JROTC
March 2021
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
