Date : 19 Feb 1949
Location : Cedar Crest Cemetery, Jesup, IA
Jesup, Ia.
Mrs. E. O. Cole received word Monday that her son, Pvt. David M. Cole, USMCR, was killed in action June 20, 1945, at Okinawa island, after eight months and two days in the service of his country.
Private Cole enlisted in the marines Sept. 12, 1944, and letf for active service Oct. 18, 1944, arriving overseas in May, 1945. A member of the replacement draft, he served with the first marine division on Guam prior to landing on Okinawa, May 26.
The last letter received by his mother was written June 14, and revealed he had been in combat for 15 days.
He was born Sept. 24, 1926, at Oran, son of Ernest O. and Ethel Trumbauer Cole. He moved with his parents to Jesup, where he attended the consolidated school and was president of his graduation class in 1944.
Following graduation he attended the American National Red Cross Aquatic school at Excelsior, Minn., and served as life guard and swimming instructor at Independence, Ia., municipal beach before leaving for the service.
He was a member of the Jesup Methodist church and a member of the boy scouts, being the first local scout to receive the First class scout award.
He was preceded in death by his father, Feb. 19, 1945. He leaves his mother and one brother, Quartermaster Third Class Leonard W., now on duty in the Pacific.
Waterloo Courier - Jul 24, 1945
