PVT Warren F. Cole
Today, we honor and remember PVT Warren F. Cole of the 101st Airborne Division.
Private (PVT) Warren Frederick Cole of Dog Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), was born in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts, to John A. and Margaret (O’Neill) Cole on July 17, 1920. Warren was their youngest child. He had two brothers, Richard A. and Roger E. Cole, and one sister, Marjorie A. Cole.
His brother, Richard, joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, and his brother, Roger, served in the U.S. Army.
Warren graduated from Gloucester High School in 1940. He married Mary T. Crogan at an unknown date, and their marriage was blessed with a little girl, named Marcia.
Private Warren Cole enlisted in the U.S. Army in his hometown on January 16, 1941. On July 22, 1944, he was assigned from the 502nd Service Co to Dog Co, and participated in the airborne assault into the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden on September 17, 1944.
In George Koskimaki’s book Hell’s Highway, Cole’s death is briefly described in a letter of Ruben LaMadrid to his buddy, PFC William H. Stephens, who was recuperating from his wounds in a stateside hospital:
“PVT Ruben LaMadrid wrote about the casualties suffered by ‘Dog’ Company in the Battle for Best and the highway bridge: ‘I must have been ahead of the line when you [PFC William H. Stephens] got hit with the grenade. Cole told me about it the next morning. He also gave me your carbine. I carried it with me for three days until LT Bud Rainey made me throw it away. Warren Cole was killed the next morning, and also [PVT] John Kish.”
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
PVT Warren Cole died at the age of 24, on September 28, 1944. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal. After his initial burial in a temporary military cemetery in the Netherlands, he was reburied at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, at Plot A, Row 4, Grave 19. May he rest in peace.
Happy Birthday in Heaven, Warren.
Lest we forget. 🇺🇸
Sources:
Hell’s Highway by George Koskimaki
God Speed Warren F. Cole 🫡🇺🇸🫡