World War II Honoree

Lawrence Cole

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

An Indebted American

JOINED THE MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD IN EARLY 1941. SERVED IN GUADALCANAL IN THE ARMY INTELLIGENCE UNIT. DUTIES INCLUDED PATROLLING THE FRONT LINES AND TAKING PHOTOS WITH A KODAK CAMERA THAT WERE USED TO PINPOINT SUSPECTED ENEMY POSITIONS THAT COULD BE ATTACKED OR BOMBARDED. HIS 'DARKROOM' WAS A FOXHOLE AT NIGHT. USED FILM DEVELOPER AND FIXER MIXED WITH RAIN WATER AND POURED INTO TWO HELMETS. WITNESSED THE NAVAL BATTLE OFFSHORE AT SAVO ISLAND. SUFFERING FROM MALARIA AND HEPATITIS, ENDED HIS SERVICE IN A HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES.