Jack Coler January 12, 1947 – June 26, 1975
Jack would have celebrated his 63rd birthday on January 12th, but his sons were robbed of their father, their mother of her husband, and many others of their friend and fellow agent. Jack’s two sons were but one and a half and three when their father was brutally murdered on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
On July 28, 2009, at Peltier’s parole hearing, I had the opportunity to spend most of the day with Jack’s sons at Lewisburg Penitentiary. Because of their young age when their father died they probably have little or no memory of him; but I didn’t ask. I met the younger son by happenstance on April 3, 2000; that encounter led to the creation of the NPPA http://www.noparolepeltier.com/pine.html.
The elder son bears a striking resemblance to his father. And although I never met Jack Coler, that day at Lewisburg I felt I had come as close as I could have. http://www.noparolepeltier.com/debate.html#paroledenied.
The criminal acts of Leonard Peltier and others ended what otherwise would have been a productive Bureau career, a rewarding and loving family life, and by now with the blessing of grandchildren.
Our thoughts and prayers go out Jack’s family and friends.
Jack’s sacrifice in the line of duty will never be forgotten.
“In the Spirit of Coler and Williams”
Ed Woods
