World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Gordon Earl Cole
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Honored By
Pearl Thomas
Served as a Gunnery Officer on the destroyer USS Stembel (DD-644) in six invasions. The toughest was 3 weeks providing call fire and night star shell support for the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions at Iwo Jima. He watched Easy Company attempt to raise the first flag and then succeed planting the larger 'Stars and Stripes' on Mt. Surabachi.