Cole, Doyle Henson, LtCol

This Military Service Page was created/owned by Laura Cole-Family to remember Marine LtCol Doyle Henson Cole.

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CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant Doyle H. Cole (MCSN: 0-20941), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Pilot of a Fighter Plane in Marine Fighter Squadron THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-THREE (VMF-323) during action against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 11 August 1950. Participating in a close support strike which intercepted and routed a mechanized column of enemy troops, Second Lieutenant Cole made several bold strafing and rocket runs in the face of intense hostile fire, aiding materially in the destruction of thirty hostile vehicles and hundreds of the enemy. With his plane hit during the action and losing oil rapidly, he elected to remain with his section leader when his plane was also struck and forced to crash-land in enemy territory. Furnishing cover for the downed pilot, he stood ready to make strafing runs to prevent the hostile troops from capturing the pilot, resolutely maintaining this position until another fighter plane and a rescue helicopter arrived on the scene to relieve him. Finally making his way back to safety, he skillfully guided his crippled aircraft to friendly lines and, just as his engine failed due to lack of oil, crash-landed in the sea at the edge of the beach line. Second Lieutenant Cole's superb airmanship, outstanding courage and selfless devotion to duty in the face of grave personal risk were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.