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[Pages S2565-S2566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMEMBERING LIEUTENANT COLONEL DICK COLE
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I am here on the floor to talk about an
American hero.
General Douglas MacArthur once said, ``Duty, Honor, Country. Those
three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you
can be, what you will be.'' Those words--duty, honor, country--are
exemplified through the life and legacy of Lieutenant Colonel Richard
Cole.
Lt. Col. Cole, who went by Dick, was born and raised in my
grandfather's hometown, Dayton, OH. He graduated from Steele High
School and completed 2 years of college at Ohio University before
enlisting in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps in
November 1940. He commissioned as a second lieutenant in July 1941 and
received his pilot wings at Randolph Field in Texas. From there, he
joined the ranks of the 34th Bombardment Squadron of the 17th
Bombardment Group.
Soon after, Lt. Col. Cole became one of the 80 volunteers who signed
up for the Doolittle Mission, which was to become the first offensive
strike on mainland Japan during World War II. In a turn of fate, a
Japanese vessel spotted the USS Hornet, forcing the mission to commence
a day early. Therefore, what was originally planned
[[Page S2566]]
as a 400-mile trip to mainland Japan turned into a 645-mile journey to
the target, putting the pilots in grave danger because the planes did
not have enough fuel to reach their destination.
Lt. Col. Cole served valiantly as Lt. Col. James Doolittle's co-
pilot, and together, they led the squadron of 16 Army Air Force bombers
from the Hornet to Tokyo. The squadron succeeded in bombing their
target, but as predicted, his plane ran low on fuel and they were
forced to bail out over China. His parachute worked, and he landed in a
tree, where he spent the night and climbed down in the morning. He
ultimately found some Chinese students who took him to Doolittle. After
the raid, Cole went to India, helped establish the dangerous Hump
flying route and flew more than 100 missions carrying cargo, earning
three Distinguished Flying Crosses. The Doolittle Raiders received the
Congressional Gold Medal in 2015 and donated it to the National Museum
of the U.S. Air Force in Ohio.
The raid provided a psychological lift back home and marked a turning
point in the Pacific theater of the war. He was humble about his role
in this mission and chalked it up to duty. In 2016, when remembering
the raid, he said: ``We were the only B-25 crew operating for months.
We were going on that mission whether we wanted to or not. That
straightens out that fairy tale.'' He was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for heroism for this mission.
Cole remained in China to continue flying bombing and transport
missions through the end of the war. He is the only American serviceman
of the 16 million who served in World War II to have flown in three
elite groups: the Doolittle Raiders, the Himalayan Hump Route pilots,
and the 1st Air Commandos.
After retiring from a distinguished 26-year long career in the U.S.
Air Force, he spent much of his time as an ambassador for the Air Force
and Doolittle Raiders. He traveled the country to keep the history and
legacy of the Doolittle Raiders alive and honor those who served beside
him.
On April 9, Lt. Col. Cole passed away at the age of 103 years old.
What an incredible life. He captured the hearts of everyone who met
him, and he will forever be remembered as a hero who faithfully
executed his duty for our Country.
Godspeed, Lt. Col. Dick Cole.
____________________