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Posted: 6/22/2016 8:21:44 PM EDT
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — One of the last two surviving members of the Doolittle Raiders — who bombed Japan in an attack that stunned that nation and boosted U.S. morale — has died in Montana, his family said.
http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/news-wire/of-remaining-doolittle-raiders-dies-in-montana/article_8ea23132-1406-550b-aecd-51234fb3dcfe.html |
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Saddening. The Final Toast always seems to come with a dusty room. They more then earned their rest.
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Rest in Peace Sir
All great men. I met Dick Cole last October. He is now the only one. |
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Grew up in Montana during the Depression, one of ten children. Took off from the Hornet, bombed Tokyo, crash landed. Didn't think he'd done anything special. Came home, worked, had a career, raised a family. Married to the same woman for seventy years. We won't see his like again. |
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It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. ~ George S. Patton View Quote I am thankful, but I'll mourn a little just the same. |
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MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — One of the last two surviving members of the Doolittle Raiders — who bombed Japan in an attack that stunned that nation and boosted U.S. morale — has died in Montana, his family said. http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/news-wire/of-remaining-doolittle-raiders-dies-in-montana/article_8ea23132-1406-550b-aecd-51234fb3dcfe.html View Quote I was fortunate to meet Lt Col Cole a few months ago and sit down and talk with him. There will never be a finer generation of men. |
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Lone Survivor Organizations. Try to look it up. After World War II ended many military units organized a Non-Profit organization to remember the people that served in Combat during the war. The last person alive got to enjoy a bottle everybody had chipped in to buy. He would raise a toast to his friends and buddies that were there only in sprit. There was an old Life Magazine - I forgot when it was published, probably 1946 - that explained the Lone Survivor Clubs and organizations. The TV series M*A*S*H had an episode Colonel Potter as a "winner" of a bottle he and his buddies bought during World War I. As far as I can recall, The First Special Service Force - The Devil's Brigade - is also getting short on surviving members. He'll be "celebrating" soon if he haven't already. How many other Sole/Lone Survivor Clubs are still out there? The Greatest Generation is getting smaller every day. They are leaving in the best possible way: In bed with loved ones nearby. TO Lt Colonel Richard "Dick" Cole: Enjoy the drink. You have dearly earned it and deserve it. https://www.aimforawesome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/silhouette-champagne-toast-celebration.jpg View Quote They actually decided to share the bottle a few years ago (2013?) when there were still four survivors. |
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View Quote Fitting event even though it's sad in a way. Those guys did an awesome job in the face of tremendous odds. And did it well. Godspeed, good sirs. Godspeed. |
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Grew up in Montana during the Depression, one of ten children. Took off from the Hornet, bombed Tokyo, crash landed. Didn't think he'd done anything special. Came home, worked, had a career, raised a family. Married to the same woman for seventy years. We won't see his like again. View Quote Those were the values our founders believed were the epitome of American values. The values our current culture of liberalism hates with a vengeance. |
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Those were the values our founders believed were the epitome of American values. The values our current culture of liberalism hates with a vengeance. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Grew up in Montana during the Depression, one of ten children. Took off from the Hornet, bombed Tokyo, crash landed. Didn't think he'd done anything special. Came home, worked, had a career, raised a family. Married to the same woman for seventy years. We won't see his like again. Those were the values our founders believed were the epitome of American values. The values our current culture of liberalism hates with a vengeance. Between the two of you, you've said it all! |
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They actually decided to share the bottle a few years ago (2013?) when there were still four survivors. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Lone Survivor Organizations. Try to look it up. After World War II ended many military units organized a Non-Profit organization to remember the people that served in Combat during the war. The last person alive got to enjoy a bottle everybody had chipped in to buy. He would raise a toast to his friends and buddies that were there only in sprit. There was an old Life Magazine - I forgot when it was published, probably 1946 - that explained the Lone Survivor Clubs and organizations. The TV series M*A*S*H had an episode Colonel Potter as a "winner" of a bottle he and his buddies bought during World War I. As far as I can recall, The First Special Service Force - The Devil's Brigade - is also getting short on surviving members. He'll be "celebrating" soon if he haven't already. How many other Sole/Lone Survivor Clubs are still out there? The Greatest Generation is getting smaller every day. They are leaving in the best possible way: In bed with loved ones nearby. TO Lt Colonel Richard "Dick" Cole: Enjoy the drink. You have dearly earned it and deserve it. https://www.aimforawesome.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/silhouette-champagne-toast-celebration.jpg They actually decided to share the bottle a few years ago (2013?) when there were still four survivors. |
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A damn fine read if you get the chance.
https://www.amazon.com/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Lawson/dp/0743474333 |
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A damn fine read if you get the chance. https://www.amazon.com/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Lawson/dp/0743474333 View Quote I remember reading that book when I was in my early teens. Still remember the part about his leg being amputated. |
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I remember reading that book when I was in my early teens. Still remember the part about his leg being amputated. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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A damn fine read if you get the chance. https://www.amazon.com/Thirty-Seconds-Over-Tokyo-Lawson/dp/0743474333 I remember reading that book when I was in my early teens. Still remember the part about his leg being amputated. That was one of the things that stood out to me the most. From splitting it open on the hook that held the pilots mic when ditching after running out of gas to the treatment of the Chinese people getting him out of harms way. A great read of a period piece without todays PC BS getting in the way. |
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I'm related to Jimmy Doolittle, he was my great grandpa's cousin. My son's middle name pay homage to him. He's the most famous person in my family and I'm very proud to be able to say that. I never was able to meet him, I was 11 when he died and lived 2 states away. The man and the men that he lead had balls that even though in their pictures weren't in wheel barrels they should have, those guys had balls made of the stuff inside the sun and bad backs. I wish I could have met someone under his command, just to hear a first hand account of how he was and what happened.
Id talk to the last survivor, if he had the time. I'd never forget it. . |
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I met Cole a few years ago...he still seemed a young man at heart.
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I met Cole a few years ago...he still seemed a young man at heart. View Quote He was an amazing man to sit and speak with, had such a great perspective on the world, he didn't want honors, he just wanted a life, I am a richer person for the time I spent with him, thank you sir, you will be missed and we are a better world because of you. |
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