World War II Honoree

Edwin S. Cole

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Breckenridge, Texas

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: SERGEANT. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, WHO WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE NOVEMBER 25, 1940 AT BRECKENRIDGE, TEXAS AND ASSIGNED TO THE TEXAS DIVISION AT CAMP BOWIE. SERVED WITH A CANNON COMPANY, 142ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 36TH INFANTRY ‘ARROWHEAD’ DIVISION ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. 5TH ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT AT PAESTUM ON THE GULF OF SALERNO AGAINST INTENSE GERMAN OPPOSITION. KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1943 WHEN THE GERMAN ARMY HAD LAUNCHED A COUNTERATTACK THE DAY BEFORE HE DIED AND WAS BURIED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE WAYLAND CEMETERY, BRECKENRIDGE, TEXAS.