ARTHUR H. DECOSTE, MOE Arthur Henry (Moe) DeCoste left this earth on September 5, 2017. Moe was born July 21, 1925 in Boston, MA to Augustus and Caroline DeCoste. He grew up in Jamaica Plain, MA and joined the US Marine Corps in 1942. He served with the 2nd Marine Division in the Pacific Theater and was listed as killed in action in the Battle of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands in 1943, but was later found wounded and transferred to Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii. From there he served at Camp Tarawa on the Island of Hawaii, named by the Marines in honor of one of the greatest sacrifices that they had ever had to make to save the United States. He trained at Camp Tarawa in preparation for the Battles of Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands and was wounded on Saipan in 1944. As a Marine, Moe was the recipient of two Purple Hearts by age 20. After discharge in 1945, he returned to Boston and reenlisted with the Marines in 1946, serving in the Caribbean Islands in Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Cuba. He was again honorably discharged in 1949. Moe returned to Boston and shortly thereafter enlisted in the US Army in 1950. He served at Fort Dix, NJ and in the Korean War from 1950-51. Moe attended Combat Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and because of his expert skills he was transferred to West Point, New York to teach cadets the art of building floating bridges. He then served at Ft. Hood during the Bay of Pigs. In 1963, Moe transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii as a member of the 65th Engineer Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division. He served in Vietnam in both 1964 and 1966, completing over 25 missions. His final assignment was in Eschborn, Germany in 1967. Moe was the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation. Moe was a loving husband to his wife, Ruth of Highlands Ranch, the love of his life. He was father to daughters, Cynthia Orlando of Hawaii and Wynne Ellen Day (Deceased), son Charles DeCoste and his wife Linda Decoste of Roxborough Park and predeceased sons inlaw, Robert Orlando and Richard Thomas Day Jr. Moe loved his grandchildren, Mila Orlando Pelekane, Regina Orlando and Jarem Day of Hawaii, Evan and Lauren DeCoste of Denver; and great grandchildren Kai Orlando and Bella Gracie Day of Hawaii. He was loved by all who knew him, including brothers in-law Tom McDonough and Gene Morrison; sisters in-law Carol and Phyllis McDonough and Linda Morrison, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of Boston. Six brothers and sisters predeceased him; Pearl, Charles, Albert, Warren, Joseph and Francis. His sister Ruthie Brink survives him at age 96. Moe loved the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, and sipping a screwdriver while he watched! He will be forever in our hearts. Viewing will be from 4-6 pm Sunday, September 17, 2017, at Horan & McConaty on E. County Line Road. A full military burial will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetary on Monday, September 18, 2017 at 12:15 pm. Donations may be made to the Disabled American Veteran's Charitable Service Trust or to Homes for our Troops. Arrangements Provided By: Horan McConaty - County Line
ARTHUR H. DECOSTE, MOE Arthur Henry (Moe) DeCoste left this earth on September 5, 2017. Moe was born July 21, 1925 in Boston, MA to Augustus and Caroline DeCoste. He grew up in Jamaica Plain, MA and joined the US Marine Corps in 1942. He served with the 2nd Marine Division in the Pacific Theater and was listed as killed in action in the Battle of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands in 1943, but was later found wounded and transferred to Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii. From there he served at Camp Tarawa on the Island of Hawaii, named by the Marines in honor of one of the greatest sacrifices that they had ever had to make to save the United States. He trained at Camp Tarawa in preparation for the Battles of Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands and was wounded on Saipan in 1944. As a Marine, Moe was the recipient of two Purple Hearts by age 20. After discharge in 1945, he returned to Boston and reenlisted with the Marines in 1946, serving in the Caribbean Islands in Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Cuba. He was again honorably discharged in 1949. Moe returned to Boston and shortly thereafter enlisted in the US Army in 1950. He served at Fort Dix, NJ and in the Korean War from 1950-51. Moe attended Combat Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and because of his expert skills he was transferred to West Point, New York to teach cadets the art of building floating bridges. He then served at Ft. Hood during the Bay of Pigs. In 1963, Moe transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii as a member of the 65th Engineer Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division. He served in Vietnam in both 1964 and 1966, completing over 25 missions. His final assignment was in Eschborn, Germany in 1967. Moe was the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation. Moe was a loving husband to his wife, Ruth of Highlands Ranch, the love of his life. He was father to daughters, Cynthia Orlando of Hawaii and Wynne Ellen Day (Deceased), son Charles DeCoste and his wife Linda Decoste of Roxborough Park and predeceased sons inlaw, Robert Orlando and Richard Thomas Day Jr. Moe loved his grandchildren, Mila Orlando Pelekane, Regina Orlando and Jarem Day of Hawaii, Evan and Lauren DeCoste of Denver; and great grandchildren Kai Orlando and Bella Gracie Day of Hawaii. He was loved by all who knew him, including brothers in-law Tom McDonough and Gene Morrison; sisters in-law Carol and Phyllis McDonough and Linda Morrison, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of Boston. Six brothers and sisters predeceased him; Pearl, Charles, Albert, Warren, Joseph and Francis. His sister Ruthie Brink survives him at age 96. Moe loved the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, and sipping a screwdriver while he watched! He will be forever in our hearts. Viewing will be from 4-6 pm Sunday, September 17, 2017, at Horan & McConaty on E. County Line Road. A full military burial will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetary on Monday, September 18, 2017 at 12:15 pm. Donations may be made to the Disabled American Veteran's Charitable Service Trust or to Homes for our Troops. Arrangements Provided By: Horan McConaty - County Line
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
