The Namesake Of The USS Cole
Sergeant Darrell Samuel Cole,
United States Marine Corps Reserve (Deceased)
On August 25, 1941, Cole enlisted in the Marine Corps for the duration
of the National Emergency, and following a boot training at Parris Island, SC, he was
appointed to the Field Music School for training as a Marine Corps Field Music, the equivalent
of a bugler. Completing instruction, he was transferred to the First Marine Regiment, First
Marine Division, and on August 7, 1942, reached the shores of Guadalcanal for the first
American offensive of World War II.
Not too happy in his role of field music when he had joined a fighting outfit
to fight and after acquitting himself meritoriously as a machine gunner in the
absence of the regular gunner, he applied for a change in rating, but was refused
due to the shortage of buglers. Cole completed his first overseas tour of duty
and returned to the United States in February 1943, where he joined First Battalion,
Twenty-Third Marines, then forming as a part of the Fourth Marine Division at Camp
Lejeune, North Carolina. When the unit moved to California he again asked for
relief as a Field Music and for permission to perform line duties, but was again
refused due to the shortage of buglers in the Marine Corps.
During the first engagement of the Fourth Division at Roi-Namur in the Kwajalein
Atoll, Col, again forsaking his bugle, went into action as a machine-gunner. Four
months later, when the Division stormed ashore at Saipan, he had been assigned to
a machine-gun unit. Because of his proven ability in combat, he was designated a
machine gun section leader. During the battle when his squad leader was killed,
Cole, although wounded, assumed command of the entire squad and acquitted himself
in such a manner to be awarded the Bronze Star Medal for "...his resolute leadership,
indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious determination in the face of terrific opposition...".
he was also awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds received in action.
A few days after the battle of Saipan, Cole, again led his squad ashore in the invasion
of the neighboring islands of Tinian, where he continued to live up to his growing
reputation as "The Fighting Field Music".
After the Marianas campaigns he again requested a change of rating and this time his
request was approved and he was redesignated Corporal "line" and was subsequently
promoted to Sergeant in November 1944. 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, their advance was halted by a hail of fire from two
Japanese emplacements which Sergeant Cole personally destroyed 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 silenced by Cole's
machine gun, but then jammed. Armed only with a pistol and one hand grenade, Sgt.
Cole made a one-man attack against the two remaining positions. 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 Japanese strong point. Returning
to his own squad, he was instantly killed by an enemy grenade. By his one-man attack
and heroic self-sacrifice, Sergeant Cole enabled his company to move forward against
fortifications and attain their ultimate objective.
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