83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Enrolled
House Concurrent Resolution 16
Sponsored by Representative GOMBERG; Senator SMITH DB
Whereas United States Army Specialist Four (SP4) Paul Jeffrey “Jeff” Cochran was born on
October 6, 1947, to Beverly Cochran-Durham; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran’s friends and peers called him Paul, but to his family, he was “Jeff”; and
Whereas during a Christmastime visit to Santa Claus when he was a young boy, the only thing
SP4 Cochran asked for was a new fridge for his mom’s apartment, demonstrating the thoughtfulness
that would define him throughout his life; and
Whereas in 1964, SP4 Cochran moved in with his grandparents, Paul and Marguerite Cochran,
and lived with them at their home at 1545 College Street in Philomath, Oregon, until 1966; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran began attending Philomath High School in 1965, and he joined the
school’s baseball team, the Philomath Warriors, that same year; and
Whereas during a legendary April 28, 1965, ball game against Salem Academy, SP4 Cochran
pitched a 3-hitter and struck out 13 batters, giving the Warriors a critical edge on their way to a
6-1 victory over Salem; and
Whereas by the time of his graduation in 1966, SP4 Cochran had played high school baseball
and football, participated in speech competitions, acted in the school play and served as the
Sergeant at Arms for his class’s student council; and
Whereas in the months following graduation, SP4 Cochran spent his days deep in thought,
driving around Philomath in his 1957 Ford Thunderbird and contemplating what his future might
hold;and
Whereas over the course of that summer, SP4 Cochran came to the realization that he wanted
to be part of something bigger than himself, and in the fall of 1966, he enlisted in the United States
Army, attending basic training at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington; and
Whereas in the spring of 1967, SP4 Cochran attended United States Army Airborne School at
Fort Benning, Georgia, where he earned his “Jump Wings” and became a paratrooper; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran joined the 101st Airborne Division, known affectionately as the
“Screaming Eagles,” at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and in December 1967, he was deployed to South
Vietnam; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran was well respected for his prowess as a soldier, but to his platoon mates,
he was a stalwart friend and a brother; and
Whereas during his time in Vietnam, SP4 Cochran earned the National Defense Service Medal,
the Vietnam Service Medal and the Expert Rifleman Badge; and
Whereas in a letter to his grandmother Marguerite dated March 20, 1968, SP4 Cochran pondered
whether the blossoms in Philomath were yet in bloom; and
Whereas on May 1, 1968, SP4 Cochran was killed during combat operations in Thua Thien
Province, South Vietnam; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran knew that serving his country was what he was meant to do, and he gave
his life to uphold that destiny; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran’s awards and decorations that were posthumously awarded to his grand-
mother Marguerite included the Bronze Star Medal with Oakleaf Cluster for meritorious service, the
Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran was buried in 1968 at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland,
Oregon;and
Enrolled House Concurrent Resolution 16 (HCR 16-A) Page 1 Whereas the Paul J. Cochran Memorial Scholarship was established at Philomath High School
in 1968 to honor SP4 Cochran’s sacrifice, and it was awarded to its first recipient, graduating senior
Ben Beddingfield, that June; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran’s name appears on panel 53E, line 29, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
in Washington, D.C.; and
Whereas on August 5, 2018, 50 years after SP4 Cochran’s death, his loving mother Beverly
passed away; and
Whereas in February 2019, Shane Cochran-Fritz, SP4 Cochran’s sister and executor of their
mother’s estate, came to Philomath City Hall and revealed that Beverly’s final wish was that the
property at 1545 College Street be donated to the City of Philomath in order to create a memorial
park further honoring SP4 Cochran’s sacrifice; and
Whereas Beverly wished for the park to become a communal space where people could gather
together to reflect on the human cost of war; and
Whereas in accordance with Beverly’s wishes, the City of Philomath demolished the home at
1545 College Street on August 15, 2020, making way for the park to come; and
Whereas the City of Philomath was awarded a Veterans and War Memorial Grant from the
State Parks and Recreation Department in 2022 for a granite memorial to be erected at the park;
and
Whereas construction of the Paul J. Cochran Veterans Memorial Park began in August 2023;
and
Whereas the Paul J. Cochran Veterans Memorial Park dedication took place on November 9,
2024, and Shane Cochran-Fritz had the honor of cutting the ribbon and officially opening the park
to the public; and
Whereas SP4 Cochran is survived by Shane Cochran-Fritz, his brother Nicholas Cochran, his
half-brother Fritz Baier, his nieces and nephews, and countless others that considered him a dear
friend;and
Whereas SP4 Cochran will always be remembered for his thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit,
and he was loved by his family, his friends, his fellow soldiers, his Philomath High School classmates
and his country; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
That we, the members of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly, recognize and honor Specialist
Four Paul Jeffrey “Jeff” Cochran for his service to his country.
Enrolled House Concurrent Resolution 16 (HCR 16-A) Page 2 Adopted by House March 10, 2025
Timothy G. Sekerak, Chief Clerk of House
Julie Fahey, Speaker of House
Adopted by Senate March 27, 2025
Rob Wagner, President of Senate
Enrolled House Concurrent Resolution 16 (HCR 16-A) Page 3