Honoring Legacy Veteran Hero Dave McCoy

Without them, America wouldn't be what it is today. They are those who protect or have protected the freedom of the United States with their responsibility and courage, and each possessing plenty of reasons to feel proud for being a veteran. The thought behind the event is to honor living legends by the community and current generation of military members. This event has turned into a reunion of the veterans, where legends meet
today’s fighting forces and share their memories.

The U.S. Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States armed forces. Today the U.S. Navy has 330,729 personnel on active duty and 102,923 in the Navy
Reserve. It operates 289 ships in active service and more than 3,700 aircraft. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13
largest navies combined. The U.S. Navy also has the world's largest carrier fleet, with 11 in service and one under construction. The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train
and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.

For the first time since the US Civil War, the US Navy created a "Brown Water Navy" to operate separately from their "Blue Water Navy" (Regular Fleet). While the regular fleet provided air strikes; battleships, cruisers, destroyers provided naval gunfire support along the Gun Line; the Brown Water Navy operated the Riverine Forces consisting of Swift Boats, Patrol Boats, Alpha boats and Monitors. The Alpha boat being originally built just for Vietnam. Riverine boats were built to withstand River mines. Thusly, they often led the way down the rivers, as Mine Sweepers.
David McCoy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February of 1967 and was deployed to Vietnam as a Field corpsman in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. He was part of Operation Pegasys in a relief column to liberate U.S .Marines under siege cut off for 77 days. On April 3, 1968, his 21st birthday, he was critically wounded in a bomb explosion. He was honorably discharged with service connected disabilities.

David spent the rest of his life dedicated to veterans outreach through the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and Airmen and Family Readiness at Vance AFB as the Director. David is responsible for many of the programs made available to veterans and their families receiving multiple awards. He organized Veterans Day activities for the City of Enid from 1982 to 2007. He has emceed numerous veterans’ events from Welcome Home Rallies, parades, tributes and services throughout Oklahoma. He assisted with the development of the Veterans Acres and donated a lake cabin for their recreational needs. He has been honored with nomination as one of Enid’s prestigious Pillar of the Plains Awards.

Please join us in recognition of Dave McCoy as the Navy Veteran of the Year.