Medal of Honor: Darrell Samuel Cole – U.S. Marine Corps – World War II

Name: Darrell Samuel Cole
Rank: Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division
Place: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands
Entered Service At: Esther, Missouri
Born: 20 July 1920, Flat River, Missouri
Other Award: Bronze Star Medal

Summary of Action

During the initial assault on Iwo Jima, Sgt. Darrell S. Cole led a machinegun section in the first wave of Marines storming the heavily fortified beaches. As his squad advanced up the sloping volcanic sand toward Airfield No. 1, they were met with devastating small-arms, mortar, and artillery fire.

Undeterred, Sgt. Cole pressed forward through a curtain of flying shrapnel and personally destroyed two enemy emplacements with hand grenades. When three Japanese pillboxes halted the advance and pinned down his unit with concentrated fire, he immediately brought his remaining machinegun into action and silenced the nearest emplacement before the weapon jammed.

With his men trapped again under withering fire, Sgt. Cole devised a daring plan. Armed only with a pistol and a single grenade, he advanced alone toward the hostile strongpoints. He hurled his grenade, withdrew for more, and charged again—repeating the process under intense enemy fire. On his third run through the storm of bullets and exploding shells, he completed the destruction of the pillboxes and annihilated the defending garrison.

As he returned to his squad, he was killed instantly by an enemy grenade. His fearless assault eliminated a critical Japanese position and enabled his company to continue its advance and seize its objective.

Medal of Honor Citation

COLE, DARRELL SAMUEL

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as leader of a Machinegun Section of Company B, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th 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 1 squad of his section in the initial assault wave, Sgt. Cole boldly led his men up the sloping beach toward Airfield No. 1 despite the blanketing curtain of flying shrapnel and, personally destroying with hand grenades 2 hostile emplacements which menaced the progress of his unit, continued to move forward until a merciless barrage of fire emanating from 3 Japanese pillboxes halted the advance. Instantly placing his 1 remaining machinegun 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 counterattack, Sgt. Cole, armed solely with a pistol and 1 grenade, coolly advanced alone to the hostile pillboxes. Hurling his 1 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 gauntlet 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, Sgt. 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, Sgt. Cole served as an inspiration to his comrades, and his stouthearted leadership in the face of almost certain death sustained and enhanced the highest tradition of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.