The terror attack on revelers celebrating in New Orleans during the early hours of New Year’s Day has had repercussions in Cape May County, where the family of one of those injured lives.
Adam Coste, a 2004 graduate of Ocean City High School who went on to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was severely injured in the attack by an Islamic State group sympathizer that killed 15 people.
Coste’s sister, Sophia, told the Herald her brother was out with friends celebrating the holiday and was struck by the suspect’s vehicle on his walk home. Although he is expected to make a full recovery, he will require surgery and rehabilitation to regain his ability to walk.
Coste was born and raised in Ocean City along with brother Jordan and sister Sophia, and the family continues to live in the area.
He graduated from West Point in May 2009 with a degree in military history and was commissioned as an infantry officer. He went on to serve 11 years on active duty in the Army.
During that period, he deployed overseas three times, being stationed in the Middle East and Europe and taking part in various combat and operational deployments.
He served with the 1st Cavalry Division and the 1st Infantry Division as company commander of both an infantry and headquarters company.
Coste’s last active-duty assignment, from 2018-2020, was as an assistant professor of military science at Tulane University, teaching both military science and American military history.
He earned his master of arts in history from the University of New Orleans in December 2023. His research focused on the American military experience in the 20th century, with particular emphasis on World War II and the Vietnam War.
Coste currently resides in New Orleans, where he works at the National World War II Museum as the educational travel manager at the museum’s Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy. According to his sister, he provides historical content for tours to both Europe and the Pacific. She said the museum has been extremely helpful in supporting her brother and the Coste family.
She said the family’s thoughts are also focused on the many victims who lost their lives or are recovering from critical injuries. Fifteen people were killed and at least 30 injured when a domestic terrorist ran his car into people celebrating the New Year on Bourbon Street. The driver was also firing a weapon at people before being shot by police as he left his vehicle.
The Coste family feels fortunate that Adam is expected to make a complete recovery. “Some are far less fortunate,” Sophia Coste said.
Coste’s friends have created a GoFundMe page to assist him, https://www.gofundme.com/f/assist-adam-a-brave-veteran-in-healing. The page thus far has raised more than $94,000 toward a $100,000 goal; any funds remaining after his medical expenses will go to other victims and families, at his request.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
