Robert George Cole
Robert George Cole (born March 19, 1915 in San Antonio , Texas , USA ; † September 18, 1944 in Best , North Brabant , Netherlands ) was a Lieutenant Colonel (Lt. Col.) of the 101st Airborne Division , who was recognized for his services in the Second World War the Medal of Honor , the highest honor for bravery of the US armed forces was bestowed.
Early life
Robert Cole was born on March 19, 1915, the son of Army doctor Colonel Clarence Cole and his wife Clara Cole at Fort Sam Houston , San Antonio. In 1933 he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio and joined the United States Army on July 1, 1934 . On June 26, 1935, he was transferred to the United States Military Academy , which he graduated in 1939. He then married his girlfriend Allie Mae Wilson. After serving as Second Lieutenant at Fort Lewis , he joined the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning in 1941 , where he earned his parachute jumper badge. Here he benefited from the fact that the paratroopers were reorganized, so that in a very short time he passed through the military ranks, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took over command of the 3rd Battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment .
commitment
On June 6, 1944, he and his unit landed by parachute in Normandy during Operation Overlord . They captured Exit 3 at Saint-Martin-de-Varreville in the hinterland of Utah Beach to cut off the retreat of fleeing German troops and to facilitate the advance of the allies who landed on the beach. Then Cole's unit was supposed to secure the right flank of the 101st Airborne Division as it advanced on Carentan .
On the afternoon of June 10th, Cole marched with over 400 soldiers from his battalion on both sides of the N13 national road in the direction of Carentan to take the four bridges of this road over the Douve and its canals. He and his men came under unexpectedly heavy German fire from well-prepared and camouflaged positions. The battalion suffered great losses from intense rifle, machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire. In addition, the further advance over the last bridge was impassable due to a massive barrier. The street soon received the legendary name Purple Heart Lane , based on the Purple Heart wounded medal , as there was an above-average chance of being wounded here.
Throughout the night the pinned battalion was covered by German defensive fire, and two German fighter planes attacked the unit. An artillery strike launched by Cole the next morning on the German defenders was ineffective, which is why, in the hopelessness of the situation, he rallied the 250 or so men who were still able to fight and ordered a bayonet attack due to a lack of ammunition . After having had smoke grenades bombarded the area , he stormed across the open area at the head of his men. Although he lost more than 130 men in the hand-to-hand combat that followed, Cole managed to advance his battalion and overpower the German defenses, which had their command post in a hedge-framed farmhouse. After Cole's men secured the area, he radioed the 1st Battalion to reinforce his lines and continue the attack on Carentan. But the 1st Battalion also came under strong German mortar fire from an unknown direction along Purple Heart Lane and only reached Cole's troops with a delay. Hardly gathered, the unit had to hold out against several German counter-attacks from the direction of Carentan, which were waged with such violence that Cole had to use the fire of the entire corps artillery by radio in order not to be overrun. Only now was the way to Carentan cleared. But the 502nd parachute infantry was too weak to continue the attack. The 506th parachute infantry was ordered as relief to eventually take the place.
Death and Medal of Honor
During Operation Market Garden on September 18, 1944, Cole was again used as commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry in the Netherlands. In Best, he personally wanted to set orange smoke grenades at the request of a pilot to mark his own lines when he was fatally wounded by a German sniper . Two weeks later he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for which he had been proposed immediately after his actions on June 11th. He was buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten , Netherlands.
Award text (original): For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty on 11 June 1944, in France. Lt. Col. Cole was personally leading his battalion in forcing the last 4 bridges on the road to Carentan when his entire unit was suddenly pinned to the ground by intense and withering enemy rifle, machinegun, mortar, and artillery fire placed upon them from well-prepared and heavily fortified positions within 150 yards of the foremost elements. After the devastating and unceasing enemy fire had prevented any move and inflicted numerous casualties for over 1 hour, Lt. Col. Cole, observing this almost hopeless situation, courageously issued orders to assault the enemy positions with fixed bayonets. With utter disregard for his own safety and completely ignoring the enemy fire, he rose to his feet in front of his battalion and with drawn pistol shouted to his men to follow him in the assault. Catching up a fallen man's rifle and bayonet, he charged on and led the remnants of his battalion across the bullet-swept open ground and into the enemy position. His heroic and valiant action in so inspiring his men resulted in the complete establishment of our bridgehead across the Douve River. The cool fearlessness, personal bravery, and outstanding leadership displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Cole reflect great credit upon himself and are worthy of the highest price in the military service.
( in German : For extraordinary bravery and fearlessness with immediate mortal danger in France on June 11, 1944, which went far beyond the mere fulfillment of duty. Lt. Col. Cole personally led his battalion in the capture of the last four bridges on the road to Carentan when his entire unit suddenly came under heavy and grueling fire from rifle, machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire from well-prepared and fortified positions, the next of which was about 50 m in front of them. After the heavy, incessant enemy fire for Having made any movement impossible for more than an hour and claiming numerous casualties, Lt. Col. Cole, after carefully assessing the situation, gave the order to storm the enemy positions with bayonets on, completely disregarding his own safety and enemy fire drawn pistol in front of his battalion and called to his men to b ei to follow the storm. With the rifle and bayonet of a fallen comrade, he stormed ahead and led the survivors of his battalion through the hail of bullets over open terrain into the positions of the enemy. His heroic and brave action inspired his men so much that it led to the construction of a complete beachhead on the other side of the Douve River. The bold, fearless, personal bravery and that of Lt. Col. Cole's outstanding leadership skills demonstrate a high degree of determination and deserve the highest honor the military can bestow.)
Others
Robert Cole was the first soldier in the 101st Airborne Division to receive the Medal of Honor and the only one to receive it for service in Normandy .
The Robert G. Cole Junior Senior High School in San Antonio and the Cole Park Condominium in Fort Campbell were named after him.
In the computer game Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 , the march on Purple Heart Lane and the attack that led to the Medal of Honor are re-enacted. Lt. Col. Cole also appears in the game; As in the actual events, this leads the troop through the smoke screen to the farmhouse.
On September 18, 2009, a memorial was erected near the site of his death in Best.
Web links
- http://ameddregiment.amedd.army.mil/fshmuse/cole.htm
- http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=11170
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cole, Robert George |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American soldier |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 19, 1915 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | San Antonio |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 18, 1944 |
| Place of death | Best |