The Foreign Service Journal, March 2006

University of California, Berkeley, in 1941 and a master’s degree in political science from Stanford University in 1947. He worked briefly for the American Trust Company in Stock- ton, Calif., and as a high school teacher and freshman counselor while completing his studies. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star for valor in action with the 9th Infantry Division in Europe. In 1947 Mr. Appling went to Washington, D.C., for the first time, and entered the Foreign Service that same year. During a nearly 30-year career, he served in Vienna, London, Paris, Bonn, Manila, the United Nations, Damascus, Canberra and Saigon, serving as deputy chief of mis- sion in the last three posts. Upon his return from Saigon in 1974, Mr. Appling was appointed deputy direc- tor general of the Foreign Service. He retired in 1976 as deputy assistant sec- retary of State. Mr. Appling received USAID’s Superior Honor Award in 1969 and the Secretary of State’s Award for Heroism in 1970 for his efforts to save the life of his deputy while himself injured, in a helicopter crash on Christmas Day in 1968, during his first tour in Vietnam. In retirement, Mr. Appling was business manager for the Beauvoir School at the National Cathedral for six years. He also worked for the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ as the con- ference minister, as a member of the conference staff and as president of the conference. He participated in four general synods, was active in establishing the Board of Social Action and was co-author of the UCC Resolution on Peace. Mr. Appling also served for five years as an active Trustee of the Lancaster Theological Seminary, and chaired the Potomac Association for the seminary’s capital fund campaign of 1987-1988. A longtime member of Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington, Va., Mr. Appling served three times as president of church council, and as chair of the board of deacons and of Christian education. He also chaired the 1987- 1988 search committee for a new pas- tor, was co-chair of the Building to Serve campaign to raise capital funds, and was a Sunday school teacher for 16 years. Mr. Appling is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary, who accompanied him throughout his Foreign Service career; two daughters, Mary of Arlington, Va., and Jane of Seattle, Wash.; two sons, Gregory of La Veta, Colo., and Hugh of Vienna, Va.; and six grandchildren. Charles E. Behrens , 80, a retired FSO, died of complications from advanced Parkinson’s disease on Jan. 10 at Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, Va. Born in Washington, D.C., Mr. Behrens was a graduate of the University of North Carolina. He served in the Merchant Marine dur- ing World War II and in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In 1950, Mr. Behrens joined the Foreign Service, serving in diplomat- ic and consular posts in Indonesia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Sudan, Burma, Germany and Washington, D.C. Fol- lowing retirement in 1986, he settled at his farm in Levels, W.Va. He enjoyed traveling the world visiting friends, skiing the Alps and snorkeling in the Caribbean. Even after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he completed a solo 192-mile coast-to- coast walk across England. Mr. Behrens is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sheila M. Behrens of Levels, W.Va.; two daughters, Eileen Behrens of Somerville, Mass., and Martha Behrens-Temple of Keene, N.H.; a son, Christopher Behrens of Seattle, Wash.; and seven grandchildren. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Ameri- can Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., Parkinson Plaza, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island NY 10305 or online at www.apdaparkinson.org. John D. Coffman , 70, a retired FSO, died on Nov. 9 in Indiana, Pa. After some years spent teaching, Mr. Coffman joined the Foreign Service in 1962. He served as coun- selor and consul general in a succes- sion of postings that included Chile, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Washing- ton, D.C. Mr. Coffman designed and founded the training center for Foreign Service officers in Arlington, Va., known as Consulate General Ros- slyn. He retired in 1986 after serving as associate director of the State De- partment’s counterterrorism office. Mr. Coffman returned to his home town of Indiana, Pa., and taught social studies and coached basketball at an area high school. He was named a part-time professor at Indiana Univer- sity of Pennsylvania in 1992. At the same time he was named to the Indiana Borough Planning Commis- sion, and then elected to the borough council in 1999, serving until his death. Mr. Coffman was also a lay speaker for his church. During his academic career Mr. Coffman received a National Science Foundation grant. During his For- eign Service career he earned a Superior Honor Award. Mr. Coffman is survived by his wife of 42 years, Claudine Foltz Coffman, 76 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / M A R C H 2 0 0 6 I N M E M O R Y u u u