COAL TOWNSHIP - Forty-seven years ago today, a story was published about two local soldiers who had an unexpected reunion near Saigon during the Vietnam War.
John Costa, now living in Irish Valley, and Dale Hoffman, of State Street, Coal Township, were recently paging through some photo albums from war time and came across a clipping that appeared in the Shamokin News-Dispatch on Feb. 20, 1968. With the anniversary of that occurrence so near, they asked that we repeat the story in today's edition.
We're glad to do so. Here it is:
Word was received today that Spc. 4 John Costa, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Costa, 1704 W. Mulberry St., and Pfc. Dale Hoffman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hoffman, 1212 W. Fern St., lifelong friends and both serving with the U.S Army, held a reunion at Cu Chi outside of Saigon. Spc. Costa has spent the past year in Vietnam and has participated in several major operations, including "Yellowstone Operation" and "Landing Zone Burt." He has served with the 25th Infantry Division and is with the 2nd and 77th Artillery. Costa was graduated from Coal Township High School in 1965. He received his basic training at Ford Gordon, Ga., and advanced training at Fort Sill, Okla. He is scheduled to return from Vietnam March 1 and following a leave with his parents will report to Fort Hood, Texas.
Pvt. Hoffman is serving with the 25th Infantry Division and has been in Vietnam three months. He was graduated from Shamokin Area High School in June 1967 and was inducted into the U.S. Army last July 20. He received basic training at Ford Benning, Ga., and advanced infantry training at Fort Polk, La. He left for Vietnam on Dec. 1.