World War II Honoree
Civilian on the Home Front
Philip Samuel Cole, Sr.
Hometown
Madison, Indiana
Honored By
Charles F. Cole
Relationship
Son
HE WAS HIRED BY THE U.S. ARMY, AT THE JEFFERSON PROVING GROUND, MADISON, INDIANA AS A GUN-CREW FOREMAN. IN THIS CAPACITY, IT WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVE SAMPLES OF ALL KINDS OF ARTILLERY AMMUNITIONS, BY INSPECTING THEM FOR IMPERFECTIONS AND LOADING THEM INTO CANNONS AND TEST-FIRING THEM. THIS WAS DONE BEFORE THE AMMUNITION WAS SHIPPED FOR THE ARMY ARTILLERY'S USE. IN JUNE 1943, HE LOST BOTH EYES AND HIS RIGHT ARM WHEN A 110 MM ARTILLERY SHELL EXPLODED BEFORE IT WAS SECURE IN THE BREECH OF A CANNON. DECEASED 1973.