Duane Oliver Cole
Sergeant Duane O. Cole served with King Company, Third Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at the battle of Tarawa on 20 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 317629
Current Status
Accounted For
as of 3 September 2019
Recovery Organization
History Flight 2014 Expedition
Read DPAA Press Release
History
[Biography coming soon]
Decorations
Purple Heart
For wounds resulting in his death, 20 November 1943.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of parents, George & Hattie Cole
Location Of Loss
Cole’s battalion landed at various locations between Beach Red 2 and Red 3.
Gallery
Duane at Niles High School during his senior year.
Duane Cole's Selective Service registration. He worked for the Garden City Fan Company..
Private Cole shortly after enlisting, 1941.
Cole's recruit platoon at San Diego.
Duane Cole as a PFC, date and location unknown.
Cole (center) in New Zealand, early 1943.
20 November 1943: reinforcing waves of Marines watch the smoke-shrouded shore of Betio from their Higgins boat.
The remnants of an ammunition storehouse became a waypoint for many BLT 3-8 Marines on 20 November 1943.
The News Palladium, 27 December 1943.
Central Division Cemetery, late 1943 or early 1944. The large building in the background was used by Marines as a field hospital. USMC photo / NARA RG-127.
Burial roster for "Central Division Cemetery" as typed up by Chaplain Willard. Note Cole's burial in Row B.
Sketch drawn by Chaplain Willard, showing the layout of the cemeteries he helped construct. Courtesy Katie Rasdorf.
Betio Casualties From This Company
(Recently accounted for or still non-recovered)
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His place of Burial is Spooner Wisconsin
https://www.dpaa.mil/News-Stories/News-Releases/PressReleaseArticleView/Article/2108166/marine-accounted-for-from-world-war-ii-cole-d/