John Will Coffey was born in New York City, the son of Thomas and Emma Coffey. He attended the U.S. Military Academy and graduated on 30 August 1917 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Coast Artillery. Captain Coffey transferred to the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps in 1921. On 18 May 1921, he married Loessa at Melrose Highlands, MA.

His assignments included: instructor at West Point 1924-1928; instructor in the Ordnance School at Aberdeen, MD 1933-1935; instructor at Command and General Staff School at Ft. Leavenworth, KS 1935-1939; special observer in England in 1941; served in Mediterranean Theater as Ordnance Officer, Atlantic Base Section 1942-1943; promotion to temporary rank of Brigadier General in October 1943 and served as Chief Ordnance Officer at Allied Headquarters in Italy 1943-1945.

BG Coffey commanded Letterkenny Ordnance Depot from 1945 to 1947 and from May 1947 to 1951 he was Professor and Head of the Department of Ordnance at the USMA. On 8 March 1951, Coffeye was on temporary duty in West Germany and while flying from Heidelburg to Bonn in an Army liaison aircraft, he was killed when the plane crashed near Koblenz.

Medals & Awards

Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
National Defense Service Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Brigadier General John Will Coffey is buried at the United States Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, NY, in Section VII, Lot 336.