Darrell S Cole
| Darrell S. Cole | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 20, 1920 Esther (now Park Hills), Missouri |
| Died | February 19, 1945 Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands |
| Status | KIA |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Service number | |
| Unit | Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division |
| Commands held | |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Iwo Jima |
| Awards | Medal of Honor, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart |
| Relations | |
| Later work | |
Darrell Samuel Cole (July 20, 1920 – February 19, 1945) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest decoration for valor, for his actions on the first day of the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Born in Esther (now part of Park Hills), Missouri, Cole enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1941 and became a machine-gun section leader with Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division. The guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) is named in his honor.
Medal of Honor
[edit]On February 19, 1945, Cole led his squad up the beach toward Airfield Number One, personally destroying two enemy emplacements with grenades. When three pillboxes halted his unit and his machine gun jammed, he made three lone advances armed only with a pistol and grenades to destroy the Japanese strong point, but was killed by an enemy grenade as he returned to his squad. His Medal of Honor was presented posthumously on April 17, 1947.
Citation
[edit]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 gauntlet 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.