In times of war, it is often difficult to keep in touch with loved ones overseas. Security is tight, and service men and women are often unable to say exactly where they are. Carl Coppes came up with a creative way to let his family know where he was, while serving with the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Carl Coppes was born on Aug. 29, 1925, to John and Mary Alice Coppes in Muncy. He graduated from Milton High School and began working for the Acme company as a produce manager. He volunteered for service in the Navy on Nov. 26, 1943.
Coppes was first sent to Sampson, N.Y., and then on to Richmond, Va., for training. After completing his training as a machinist, he was sent to Solomons, Md., and then assigned to an LCI or "Landing Craft Infantry." These were troop transport ships which took part in the invasions of both Europe and the Pacific. Coppes was assigned to LCI 631.
The LCI 631 was built as a troop ship, then converted in 1944 into a gunboat. Towards the end of the war, it was again converted, this time into a LCI(M), or mortar boat, participating in barrages during invasions.
Coppes served aboard during all three configurations.
He visited a large number of islands during the course of the war, taking part in the invasion of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, and visiting the islands of Guam and Saipan among others. His ship also took part in the assaults of both Okinawa and Iwo Jima.
Serving aboard a ship, especially one in the thick of the action, made keeping in touch with loved ones difficult. Coppes sent letters as often as he could, but military sensors would black out or cut out any information they thought was too risky to pass on. This included any locations that the sailors listed.
However, the Coppes family came up with an inventive way for Carl to let them know where he was. With the use of a simple code and a world map, his sister was able to keep track of his progress through the Pacific.
"I didn't know Carl until after the war," said Anna Coppes, wife, 81, displaying the battered world map that had been used to mark his locations. "So I don't know how they did it exactly. But when he would write to his sister, he would change her middle initial to tell them where he was."
Whatever the initial was changed to, it was evidently enough to pass information on. The map Anna has is marked with dates and events concerning Coppes travels during the war. Some islands and cities are circled with captions such as "Shanghai, 3 wks, Dec. 1946."
"Carl used to talk about Shanghai," Anna recalls. "He loved it there and always said he was going to go back, though he never did."
Coppes was discharged from the Navy on April 2, 1946 in New York, after serving for two years, two months and two weeks. He was discharged as a Machinist's Mate, Second Class. He was awarded the Pacific Theater Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and Victory Medal for his service.
He returned to Muncy after the war and resumed working for Acme, initially in Williamsport. He was again a produce manager as he had been before enlisting.
For some time he considered a change of profession. In the Navy, he had received training as a diesel mechanic. However, pursuing this would require moving, and according to Anna, Coppes had seen enough traveling with the Navy.
"I think he learned a lot in the service," Anna says. "He learned a trade. He was all set to go to diesel school in Michigan, but changed his mind."
He was married to Anna on Nov. 9, 1947. The couple had three children, Christina Harder, Mindy Hammond and Jeff Coppes.
In 1952, he was transferred to Lock Haven, where he managed a store for Acme on Bellefonte Avenue. Coppes left Acme to open up a store with his partner, Robert Thorson in June 1957. Their shop, Coppes and Thorson's Superette, moved in 1972 to a building in Mill Hall. Two months later, the flood following Hurricane Agnes nearly put the store out of business.
"It was a mess," Anna remembers. "But it was amazing. In three days they managed to get the store open again, with a lot of help."
The store became Coppes' real pride and joy. It was open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and every year Coppes and Thorson celebrated the store's anniversary by giving gifts to their customers. On one year, the anniversary gift was a car.
"They closed down part of Jones Street for a street carnival for the kids," Anna explains. "They had pony rides, treats and balloons, clowns and a merry-go-round."
The stores radio advertisement is still remembered today. The jingle, set to the theme of the Mexican hat dance, was one of the first heard on the radio in the area. Recently, Coppes' son, Jeff was at a party and friends sang the jingle to him.
Coppes kept in touch with a few crewman from his ship, most noticeably Bill Miller from Bedford, Pa. According to Anna, he enjoyed his time in the service and never complained about it.
Coppes was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. He was also a volunteer for the Citizen's Hose Fire Co. and a member of the Trinity Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and bowling.
"He loved vacations at Pine Creek with his family," Anna says. "He would take the kids and their friends."
Coppes also enjoyed refinishing furniture as a hobby.
Anna recalls Carl as a good man who was hard working and a bit of a prankster.
"He was never really trouble," Anna says about his pranks. "But he and Robert (Thorson) had fun."
"He was a good neighbor, a good friend, a good husband and a good father," Anna says. "And he is missed very much."
Carl Coppes passed away in 1984, at the age of 58.
A note in his high school yearbook may have described him best. "Carl was cheerful and full of fun. A friend to everyone."
