Jump to content

Darrell S. Cole

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 140.32.16.104 (talk) at 03:46, 6 February 2009 (→‎Military service: spelling error- changed lejune to lejeune). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Darrell S. Cole
  
Darrell S. Cole, Medal of Honor recipient
Place of burial
Parkview Cemetery, Farmington, Missouri
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1941-1945
RankSergeant
Unit1st Battalion, 23rd Marines
Battles/warsWorld War II
*Battle of Saipan
*Battle of Iwo Jima
AwardsMedal of Honor
Bronze Star
Purple Heart (x2)
Presidential Unit Citation
American Defense Service Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal

Sergeant Darrell Samuel Cole (July 20, 1920 – February 19, 1945) was a United States marine who posthumously received the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his conspicuous gallantry at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.[1] The United States Navy named the USS Cole (DDG-67), a destroyer, in his honor.

Although he was originally assigned to play the bugle, Sergeant Cole repeatedly fought as a machine-gunner in several campaigns of World War II. After several attempts to change his rating from a bugler to a machine-gunner, his request was approved less than four months before he was killed in combat during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Early years

Darrell Cole was born on July 20, 1920 in Flat River, Saint Francois County, Missouri.[1] Cole attended high school in Esther, Missouri and graduated from there in 1938. Until he graduated from high school his main interests in life were playing basketball, hunting and photography. He also learned to play the french horn while he was young which would later lead to him being assigned as a bugler in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.[1]

Soon after his graduation from high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), where he became an assistant forestry clerk and assistant educational advisor for his company. He left the CCC after one year and he went to Detroit, Michigan where he found employment as a skiver machine operator for a firm which specialized in the manufacture of engine gaskets.[1]

Military service

On August 25, 1941, he enlisted in the Marine Corps for the duration of the "National Emergency". Following boot camp at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, he was appointed to the Field Music School for training as a Marine Corps Field Musician (a bugler). He was unhappy in his role of field musician, because he had joined a fighting outfit to fight. He had applied for a change in rating, but was refused due to the shortage of buglers. He completed instruction and was transferred to the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

Cole completed his first overseas tour of duty and returned to the United States in February 1943 where he joined the First Battalion, 23rd Marines, a part of the 4th Marine Division at MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. When the unit moved to California he again asked for relief as a field musician and for permission to perform line duties. Due to the shortage of buglers in the Marine Corps, his request was not approved.[1]

Throughout the course of World War II, until his death on Iwo Jima Cole participated in several battles and campaigns as a machine-gunner and was eventually promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1942.

Battle of Guadalcanal

The Battle of Guadalcanal, also known as the Guadalcanal campaign, was fought between August 7, 1942, and February 7, 1943, in the Pacific theatre of World War II. This campaign, fought on the ground, at sea, and in the air, pitted Allied forces against Imperial Japanese forces, and was a decisive, strategically significant campaign of World War II. The fighting took place on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the southern Solomon Islands and was the first major offensive launched by allied forces against the Empire of Japan.

Cole reached the shores of Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942 for the first American offensive of World War II. It was here where he had his first opportunity to fill in as a machine-gunner in the absence of the regular gunner.[1]

Battle of Kwajalein

The Battle of Kwajalein was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought from January 31, 1944, to February 3, 1944, on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The United States launched a successful twin assault on the main islands of Kwajalein in the south and Roi-Namur in the north. The Japanese defenders put up a stiff resistance though outnumbered and under-prepared. The determined defense of Roi-Namur left only 51 survivors of an original garrison of 3,500.

During this engagement of the 4th Division at Roi-Namur in the Kwajalein Atoll, Cole, again forsaking his bugle, went in to action as a Machine Gunner.

Battle of Saipan

The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from June 15, 1944 to July 9, 1944. The American 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions and 27th Infantry Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Holland Smith defeated the 43rd Division of the Imperial Japanese Army commanded by Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito. The victory was the most costly to date in the Pacific War. 2,949 Americans were killed and 10,364 wounded, out of 71,000 who landed.[2]

It was during this battle that Cole was actually assigned to a machine gun unit and was even designated as a machine gun section leader. During the battle his squad leader was killed and Cole, although wounded, assumed command of the entire squad. He was awarded the Bronze Star for "…his resolute leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious determination in the face of terrific opposition." He was also awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action.[1]

Battle of Tinian

The Battle of Tinian was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands from July 24, 1944 to August 1, 1944. Arriving within a few days after the battle of Saipan, Cole again led his squad ashore in the invasion of the neighboring islands of Tinian and continued to build his reputation as "The Fighting Field Musician."[1]

Mariana and Palau Islands campaign

The Mariana and Palau Islands campaign was an offensive launched by United States forces against Imperial Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands and Palau in the Pacific Ocean between June and November, 1944 during the Pacific War. It was after the Marianas campaigns, that he resubmitted his request for a change of rating for a third time.[1] Pointing out his experience and combat record, he stated that he felt he would be of more benefit to the Marine Corps performing line duties than those of field music.[1] This time his request was approved and he was redesignated Corporal and subsequently promoted to Sergeant in November 1944.[1]

Battle of Iwo Jima

The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between the United States and the Japanese Empire in February and March 1945 during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Ground fighting on the island took place over approximately 35 days, lasting from the landings of February 19, to a final Japanese charge the morning of March 26, 1945. The U.S. invasion, known as Operation Detachment, was charged with the mission of capturing the airfields on Iwo Jima.[3]

The battle was marked by some of the fiercest fighting of the campaign. The Imperial Japanese Army positions on the island were heavily fortified, with vast bunkers, hidden artillery, and 18 kilometers (11 mi) of tunnels.[4][5]

On February 19, 1945, Sergeant Cole led his machine gun section ashore in the D-Day assault of Iwo Jima. Moving forward with the initial assault wave, a hail of fire from two enemy emplacements halted his section's advance. Sergeant Cole personally destroyed them with hand grenades. His unit continued to advance until pinned down for a second time by enemy fire from three Japanese gun emplacements. One of these emplacements was destroyed by Cole's machine guns. When his machine guns jammed, armed only with a pistol and one hand grenade, Sergeant Cole made a one-man attack against the two remaining gun emplacements. Twice he returned to his own lines for additional grenades and continued the attack under fierce enemy fire until he had succeeded in destroying the enemy strong points.[1]

Upon returning to his own squad, he was killed by an enemy grenade. As a result of his one-man attack, Sergeant Cole enabled his company to move forward against the fortifications and attain their ultimate objective.[1]

Sergeant Cole was initially buried in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima but at the request of his father his remains were returned to the United States and he was buried in Parkview Cemetery, Farmington, Missouri.[6]

Namesake and honors

File:USS Cole (DDG 67).jpg
The USS Cole (DDG 67) underway

The first USS Cole was not named for Sergeant Cole; however, the second USS Cole (DDG-67) is an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyer homeported in NS Norfolk, Virginia. The ship was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding and delivered to the Navy on March 11, 1996.[7] On October 12, 2000, the Cole was damaged by a suicide attack while harbored in the Yemeni port of Aden.[7]

Darrell S Cole Drive in Park Hills, Missouri is named in honor of Sergeant Cole.[8]

The Marine Corps reserve training center in Camp Las Flores aboard Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton, California is named in his honor.[9]

Medal of Honor

Cole was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, which was presented to his widow on April 17, 1947.[1] The citation reads as follows.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Leader of a Machine-gun Section of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, Fourth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Assailed by a tremendous volume of small-arms, mortar and artillery fire as he advanced with one squad of his section in the initial assault wave, Sergeant Cole boldly led his men up the sloping beach toward Airfield Number One despite the blanketing curtain of flying shrapnel and, personally destroying with hand grenades two hostile emplacements which menaced the progress of his unit, continued to move forward until a merciless barrage of fire emanating from three Japanese pillboxes halted the advance. Instantly placing his one remaining machine gun in action, he delivered a shattering fusillade and succeeded in silencing the nearest and most threatening emplacement before his weapon jammed and the enemy, reopening fire with knee mortars and grenades, pinned down his unit for the second time. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation and evolving a daring plan of counterattack, Sergeant Cole, armed solely with a pistol and one grenade, coolly advanced alone to the hostile pillboxes. Hurling his one grenade at the enemy in sudden, swift attack, he quickly withdrew, returned to his own lines for additional grenades and again advanced, attacked, and withdrew. With enemy guns still active, he ran the gantlet of slashing fire a third time to complete the total destruction of the Japanese strong point and the annihilation of the defending garrison in this final assault. Although instantly killed by an enemy grenade as he returned to his squad, Sergeant Cole had eliminated a formidable Japanese position, thereby enabling his company to storm the remaining fortifications, continue the advance and seize the objective. By his dauntless initiative, unfaltering courage and indomitable determination during a critical period of action, Sergeant Cole served as an inspiration to his comrades, and his stouthearted leadership in the face of almost certain death sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.[1]

Military Awards

In addition to the Medal of Honor and Bronze Star Medal, Sgt Cole was awarded the Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of a second award, the Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.[1]

Medal of Honor
Bronze Star
Purple Heart with Gold Star in lieu of second award
File:NavyPres.gif Presidential Unit Citation
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Darrell S. Cole, Medal of Honor recipient". Who's who in Marine Corps history. History Division, United States Marine Corps. September 18, 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-28.
  2. ^ Battle of Saipan - The Final Curtain, David Moore
  3. ^ Morison, Samuel Eliot (2002) [1960]. Victory in the Pacific, 1945, vol. 14 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0252070658. OCLC 49784806.
  4. ^ Letters from Iwo Jima - World War II Multimedia Database
  5. ^ Battle of Iwo Jima Japanese Defense
  6. ^ Darrell S. Cole at Find a Grave Retrieved on 2008-02-17
  7. ^ a b Official webpage of the USS Cole
  8. ^ Melissa data street finder
  9. ^ Thomas O'Hara (2005). camp pendleton. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738529826.

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Darrell_S._Cole&oldid=268847323"