About the Author

Gregory Ashton Coco, born and raised in Louisiana, lived in the Gettysburg area for nearly 35 years. In 1972, after serving in the U.S. Army, he earned a degree in American History from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. While in the military, Greg spent a tour of duty in Vietnam as a prisoner of war military interrogator and infantry platoon radio operator with the 25th Infantry and received, among other awards, the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. During his years in Gettysburg, Greg worked as a National Park Service Ranger and a Licensed Battlefield Guide. He wrote sixteen books and a dozen scholarly articles on Gettysburg and the Civil War. His A Strange and Blighted Land. Gettysburg: The Aftermath of a Battle was voted #12 in the Top 50 Civil War Books ever written. Greg died at age 62 in February of 2009. In his words, he was “the happy husband of Cindy L. Small for 26 years. He was the fortunate father of daughter, Keri E. Coco. He loved them both with all his heart.” Keri is married to Cail MacLean and they have a daughter, Ashton MacLean Coco.

Reviews

"Greg Coco's books gave us a timeless study of the Battle of Gettysburg written by not only a gifted historian, but also a combat infantryman. If all historians are tourists in a foreign land, then Greg Coco has become our guide!"--Tony Nicastro, Licensed Battlefield Guide, Gettysburg National Military Park

"Greg Coco's classic works about the Battle of Gettysburg provide an incisive, unvarnished portrait of how the soldiers and the community where they fought fared after the largest battle ever waged in the Western Hemisphere. Collectively, these books help transform our understanding of the true cost of this battle for all of those touched by it. They belong in the library of every student of the American Civil War."--Renae MacLachlan, Licensed Battlefield Guide, Gettysburg National Military Park

"The multifarious works of Greg Coco are singularly important in the literature surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg."--David Weaver, Licensed Battlefield Guide, Gettysburg National Military Park

"While preparing to become a licensed battlefield guide, I relied heavily on Greg Coco's books. Once I became a guide, I consulted these wonderful resources as I created tours and programs for Gettysburg visitors. Greg's works are comprehensive and well-written. All are important in subject matter, though my personal favorite is A Strange and Blighted Land: The Aftermath of a Battle. Every title touches heavily on the battle's human aspects, which make them very readable and relatable. I recommend them to visitors at every opportunity."--Sue Boardman, Licensed Battlefield Guide, Gettysburg National Military Park