Few people in the industry were aware of the U.S. military resale market when Paul Coughlin formed Overseas Service Corporation. The year was 1947, and much of Europe was still in rubble in the aftermath of World War II. Japan was under General Mac Arthur's stewardship, and the Soviet Union's dire intentions were still not fully recognized. At that time, not even someone with Paul's vision could have anticipated that the United States would be forced to maintain a sizeable military force for decades to come, or that the resale market would grow to substantial proportions.

Paul had become a very successful businessman before he ever turned his attention to the military market. As General Sales Manager for Hiram Walker in the Washington D.C. market. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, Paul left his business in the hands of others, joined the Navy and eventually became Operations Officer of a dive bomber squadron assigned to the second Yorktown aircraft carrier.

Paul's service experience had a profound impact on his life. Until Paul drew his last breath, he identified closely with the military and the importance of a strong national defense. His military experience also provided him his first exposure to Exchanges, Commissaries and Clubs - and planted the seeds of an idea that was later to reach fruition in the founding of OSC. Hiram Walker proved to be the catalyst. They approached Paul after he resumed the helm of his distributorship and asked him to help them assess the status of their military business in Europe. Paul recognized a big opportunity and teamed up with Lt. General Lewis Brereton to create Overseas Service Corporation. (Brereton had a distinguished military career. Among many important assignments, he commanded the First Allied Airborne Army from August 1944 until the capitulation of Germany in May 1945).

With Hiram Walker as its first account, OSC established a headquarters in Washington D.C. and launched its initial field operations in Europe. Additional manufacturers began to be attracted to our services and the company gradually expanded into other markets. A Far East division was launched in 1949 and a Domestic Division came along a year later. Separate Commissary and Exchange teams were formed several years later to provide needed specialization. In 1986, another prominent military representative firm, the V.H. Monette Company merged with OSC. The new enlarged company became an even more potent force in the market.

Mr. Coughlin passed on in 1984, but his principles, vitality and spirit imbue new generations of management and underpin the success we enjoy today.