World War II Honoree

Arles Enos Cole

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Porum, Muskogee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED NAVAL SERVICE AT AGE 17, UNDER A SPECIAL PROGRAM THAT PERMITTED HIS EARLY ENLISTMENT. HE WAS TRAINED IN THE NAVIGATION SPECIALTY AND CHOSE SERVICE ABOARD THE USS WEST VIRGINIA. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS A 17 YEAR OLD QUARTERMASTER STRIKER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48). HE WAS ABOARD SHIP WHICH WAS MOORED OFF FORD ISLAND ON BATTLESHIP ROW AT PEARL HARBOR, OAHU, HAWAII AT THE TIME OF THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. HE IS A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR. ARISING JUST BEFORE 8:00 A.M., HE WALKED OUT ON THE WING OF THE NAVIGATION BRIDGE. AT THE TIME OF THE ATTACK, HE WAS WALKING ON THE MAIN DECK, SAW BLACK SMOKE AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG ON FORD ISLAND. HE IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO HIS BATTLE STATION BELOW, AND HAD JUST ARRIVED WHEN THE FIRST TORPEDO STRUCK HIS SHIP. KNOCKED DOWN BY THE BLAST, HE SAW OIL AND WATER FLOODING INTO HIS COMPARTMENT AND THE LIGHTS BELOW DECKS WENT OUT. HE CRAWLED THROUGH THE DARKNESS TO A HATCH BUT DISCOVERED IT HAD BEEN SEALED AND HE WAS TRAPPED. SOON, A DUD BOMB RIPPED THROUGH THE SHIP'S STRUCTURE AND LEFT A GAPING HOLE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO CLIMB THROUGH AND ESCAPE. HE ALSO WAS ABLE TO HELP FELLOW SHIPMATES TO SAFETY TOPSIDE ON THE MAIN DECK. NOTICING THAT THE SHIP'S STERN FLAG WAS NOT FLYING, HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE BUNTING CABINET, FOUND A FLAG, AND SHIMMIED OUT ON THE POLE TO SECURE IT. ALL THE WHILE, HIS SHIP WAS UNDER ATTACK. THE SHIP WAS HIT WITH 6 TORPEDOES AND 2 ARMOR-PIERCING BOMBS, WHICH CAUSED FIRES AND SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS. THE WEST VIRGINIA STAYED AFLOAT FOR A FEW HOURS AS HE JOINED IN THE FIRE FIGHTING EFFORTS. THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP WAS GIVEN AND SOON AFTER, HIS SHIP SANK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HARBOR. OF THE SHIP'S COMPLEMENT OF SOME 1,300 MEN, THE BODIES OF 70 TRAPPED SHIPMATES WERE DISCOVERED BELOW DECKS AFTER THE SHIP WAS REFLOATED MONTHS LATER, WITH INDICATIONS THAT MEMBERS WERE STILL ALIVE ON DECEMBER 23, 1941. HE LOST 106 SHIPMATES DURING THE ATTACK. THE WEST VIRGINIA WAS ONE OF FOUR BATTLESHIPS LOST THAT DAY DURING THE ATTACK. HE WENT ON TO SERVE ABOARD THE MINESWEEPER USS TURKEY (AM-13), AND THEN THE DESTROYER USS PRITCHETT (DD-561), INCLUDING AT OKINAWA IN 1945. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH ‘FLEET’ CLASP, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. AUTHORIZED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY USS PRITCHETT IN SUSTAINED MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST ENEMY FORCES OFF OKINAWA DURING THE PERIOD MARCH 24-APRIL 7, 1945 AND AGAIN FROM MAY 8-AUGUST, 1945. HIS SHIP, WHILE ON PICKETT DUTY, INDEPENDANTLY DOWNED 6 JAPANESE AIRCRAFT, AND PROVIDED PROTECTION TO ANOTHER DISABLED SHIP AND TAKING ON SURVIVORS. DD-561 SAILED FOR THE UNITED STATES ON AUGUST 13, 1945, AND ARRIVED AT THE END OF HOSTILITIES IN THE PACIFIC. THE WARSHIP WAS THEN OVERHAULED AT PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON STATE. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RATING OF QUARTERMASTER FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.