NetNews

Vice President for Administrative Operations Thomas Coakley is finding himself in some celebrated company, with his inclusion in the new book Boom! Voices of the Sixties Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today, by former NBC newsman Tom Brokaw. Brokaw has been mentioning Coakley and his wife, Nellie, in media interviews about the volume, and the Coakleys have been making time in their schedules for their own interviews with news media.

Interviews with the Coakleys, both Vietnam veterans who met at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital while Tom was recovering from battle injuries and Nellie was his nurse, are included in the book, as well as thoughts from celebrities from the era. Brokaw became aware of the Coakleys after seeing a presentation by Nellie, who works with veterans, at an event about 10 years ago; both Coakleys are active with veterans' organizations.

In addition to the book, Brokaw is working on a related documentary, set to air on the cable-television History Channel; the Coakleys were interviewed for that as well, at Walter Reed. As Brokaw makes the rounds of news media to promote the project, he has frequently mentioned the Coakleys in interviews, stating that their story is among the most moving that he encountered in the process of gathering material.

More: Boom! on the History Channel Web site

Posted: November 21, 2007