july february united_states marine posthumously received highest military decoration medal honor conspicuous gallantry battle world war originally assigned play repeatedly requested rating changed field musician machine gunner rated fought machine gunner major campaigns world war including fourth request change rating machine gunner request approved months sent combat battle cole successful man attack gun advance company returning squad killed enemy grenade united_states_navy named uss cole destroyer honor destroyer damaged suicide attack subsequently repaired currently service early life born july missouri attended high school graduating graduating main interests sports particularly basketball hunting photography learned play french horn later led assigned graduating high school joined assistant forestry clerk assistant educational advisor company left year went detroit michigan worked company engine military service august enlisted marine_corps following united_states marine corps recruit training island south_carolina appointed training marine_corps field musician unhappy field musician joined marine_corps fight applied change rating machine gunner refused shortage completing field music school transferred 1st marine regiment completing overseas tour returned united_states february assigned battalion 23rd marines north_carolina unit moved california asked relief field musician permission perform line duties shortage marine_corps request denied course world war death cole participated battles campaigns machine gunner promoted rank sergeant fought august february pacific theatre world war major offensive launched allied forces cole arrived august american offensive world war opportunity fill machine gunner absence regular gunner battles cole served battles pacific theatre including battles united_states launched assault main islands south north january february japanese defenders stiff resistance outnumbered prepared united_states won battle determined defenses left japanese survivors original garrison engagement 4th division cole stepped machine gunner cole sent fight unit assigned machine gun unit designated machine gun section leader battle squad leader killed cole wounded assumed command entire squad awarded leadership fighting spirit determination face terrific opposition awarded purple heart wounds received fighting began island july august cole unit sent days battle began cole led squad ashore invasion defeat neighboring islands continued build reputation fighting field musician campaign campaign offensive launched united_states forces forces pacific_ocean june november pacific war campaign submitted request change rating time pointing experience combat record stated felt benefit marine_corps performing line duties field music time request approved redesignated corporal subsequently promoted sergeant november battle fought united_states february march ground fighting island took place approximately days lasting landings february final japanese charge morning march invasion known operation detachment charged mission capturing islands airfields japanese positions island heavily fortified vast hidden artillery kilometers tunnels february led machine gun section ashore day assault moving forward initial assault wave hail fire enemy halted section advance personally destroyed hand grenades unit continued advance pinned second time enemy fire japanese gun destroyed machine gunner cole squad machine guns jammed armed pistol hand grenade man attack remaining gun twice returned lines additional grenades continued attack fierce enemy fire succeeded destroying enemy strong points returning squad killed enemy grenade result man attack company forward fortifications attain ultimate objective initially buried 4th marine division cemetery request father remains returned united_states buried missouri honors awards military decorations addition medal honor awarded purple heart lieu second award world war victory medal medal honor cole posthumously awarded medal honor presented widow april citation reads follows conspicuous gallantry risk life duty serving leader machine gun section company battalion marines action enemy japanese forces assault february tremendous volume small arms mortar artillery fire advanced squad section initial assault wave led men sloping beach airfield number despite curtain flying personally destroying hand grenades hostile progress unit continued forward barrage fire japanese halted advance instantly placing remaining machine gun action delivered shattering succeeded nearest threatening weapon jammed enemy reopening fire knee mortars grenades pinned unit second time tactical situation evolving daring plan counterattack armed solely pistol grenade advanced hostile grenade enemy sudden swift attack quickly withdrew returned lines additional grenades advanced attacked withdrew enemy guns active ran fire time complete total destruction japanese strong point defending garrison final assault instantly killed enemy grenade returned squad eliminated formidable japanese position enabling company storm remaining fortifications continue advance seize objective initiative courage determination critical period action served inspiration comrades leadership face certain death sustained enhanced highest traditions gave life country honors second uss cole equipped guided missile destroyer named cole virginia ship built delivered navy march october cole damaged suicide attack port uss cole launched named marine killed world war training center camp las aboard marine_corps base camp california named honor sgt cole band hall aboard marine_corps base named honor
Darrell S. Cole