World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Oscar H. Cole, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Marine Corps
Hometown
Hammond, Louisiana
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Private First Class. Inducted into the United States Marine Corps January 15, 1942 at New Orleans, Louisiana, completing basic training with the Eleventh Recruit Battalion Recruit Depot; Marine Corps Base San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from Boot Camp, he was transferred to Camp Pendleton Oceanside, California for combat training. Following infantry training, he served as a Rifleman with Charlie Company, First Battalion, Second Marine Regiment a subordinate unit of the Second Division Location: Central Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese forces on the Island of Betio, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, Code Name: Operation Galvanic. Reported missing in action or buried at sea Saturday, November, 20, 1943 succeeding the battle. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Honolulu Memorial Location: Honolulu, Hawaii. In his Memory and Honor, a cenotaph memorial has been placed at the Green Lawn Cemetery Hammond, Louisiana. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.