World War II Honoree

Norman J. Cole

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Marlborough, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES NAVY IN 1940 FROM BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS AND HAD BASIC TRAINING IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. ASSIGNED TO THE USS LIVERMORE DD-429, THE FLAGSHIP OF DESTROYER DIVISION 21. IN 1942, LIVERMORE HAD MANY TRANSATLANTIC ESCORT MISSIONS, THEN COASTAL AND CONVOY DUTY IN THE CARIBBEAN. LIVERMORE SAILED TO FRENCH MOROCCO FOR THE NORTH AFRICAN INVASION AND WAS ASSIGNED ANTISUBMARINE AND ANTIAIRCRAFT DUTIES. IN 1943 HAD PATROL DUTY OFF RECIFE, BRAZIL AND FIVE VOYAGES BETWEEN NEW YORK AND CASABLANCA AND RECEIVED THREE BATTLE STARS FOR THIS. LATE IN 1943 HE WAS SENT TO FIRE CONTROL TECHNICIAN SCHOOL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO THE USS CHARLES SPERRY DD-697. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, ALSO IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA. SERVED UNDER ADMIRALS HALSEY AND SPRUCE IN TASK FORCES 38 AND 58 AND RECEIVED FOUR BATTLE STARS AND THE NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL FOR THIS. HE ADVANCED TO THE RANK OF FIRST CLASS PETTY OFFICER, AND EARNED THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE STAR, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE STAR, THE AMERICAN AREA MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MEDAL, THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL WITH BRONZE 'A' AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. RECEIVED HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN JANUARY, 1947.