Grave marker application for Sgt Lavanda W. Coleman, Jt. to be installed in Memorial Park Cemetery, Tampa (Hillsborough), FL.

:Lavanda graduated from George S. Middleton High School, Tampa, FL on 15 May 1957.

In February,1960 he married Shirley Yvonne Marshall in Hillsborough county, FL.

Lavanda enlisted in the U.S. Army  on 17 October 1963 and following jump school was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 508th PIR.

On 15 June 1965, Sgt Coleman was killed in action in the Dominican Republic

His military decorations include the Silver Star, Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge.