
FAIR OAKS, Calif. — Sgt. Ronald Coffelt was devoted to his country and his children and died doing what he wanted to do, his family said.
Coffelt, 36, of Fair Oaks, died July 19 of wounds suffered when a bomb exploded in Baghdad, the Defense Department said.
The father of five, who died during his second tour of duty in Iraq, joined the Army when he graduated from high school, his brother-in-law, Brian Conner, 33, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
“He was fully aware of what he would be facing. He knew what his duties would be, and he had no problems doing his duties,” Conner said.
At home in Fort Bragg, N.C., Coffelt enjoyed coaching Little...