Sergeant Darrel S. Cole - MCRD - San Diego, CA
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 32° 44.564 W 117° 11.679
11S E 481764 N 3622783
At the MCRD Museum, access open to the public every day.
Waymark Code: WMZW53
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 01/12/2019
Views: 0
County of painting: San Diego County
Location of memorial: Hochmuth Ave, James L. Day Hall Museum, MCRD
MCRD: Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Artist: Alvin B. Grant
Plaque Text:
Sergeant Darrel S. Cole
Sgt Cole was assigned as a machine gun Section leader with 1st Battalion 23rd Marines, 4th Marine Division, on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, when he earned his Medal of Honor. On 19 February 1945, Sgt Cole advanced with one squad up the beach towards Airfield No. 1. Along the way Sgt Cole's team silenced enemy resistance until his machine gun jammed and was immediately pinned down by heavy fire. Armed with a pistol and a hand grenade, Sgt Cole made three solo attempts to destroy the enemy emplacement until he was successful. An enemy hand grenade killed Sgt Cole shortly after he destroyed the enemy strong point.
His MOH Citation:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Leader of a machine-gun Section of Company B, First Battalion, Twenty-Third Marines, Fourth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the assault on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945.
Assailed by a tremendous volume of small-arms, mortar and artillery fire as he advanced with one squad of his section in the initial assault wave, Sergeant Cole boldly led his men up the sloping beach toward Airfield Number One despite the blanketing curtain of flying shrapnel and, personally destroying with hand grenades two hostile emplacements which menaced the progress of his unit, continued to move forward until a merciless barrage of fire emanating from three Japanese pillboxes halted the advance.
Instantly placing his one remaining machine gun in action, he delivered a shattering fusillade and succeeded in silencing the nearest and most threatening emplacement before his weapon jammed and the enemy, reopening fire with knee mortars and grenades, pinned down his unit for the second time. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation and evolving a daring plan of counterattact, Sergeant Cole, armed solely with a pistol and one grenade, coolly advanced alone to the hostile pillboxes. Hurling his one grenade at the enemy in sudden, swift attack, he quickly withdrew, returned to his own lines for additional grenades and again advanced, attacked, and withdrew. With enemy guns still active, he ran the gantlet of slashing fire a third time to complete the total destruction of the Japanese strong point and the annihilation of the defending garrison in this final assault.
Although instantly killed by an enemy grenade as he returned to his squad, Sergeant Cole had eliminated a formidable Japanese position, thereby enabling his company to storm the remaining fortifications, continue the advance and seize the objective. By his dauntless initiative, unfaltering courage and indomitable determination during a critical period of action, Sergeant Cole served as an inspiration to his comrades, and his stouthearted leadership in the face of almost certain death sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." ~ Link below holds this citation and his history and the ship named after him