Memorial

More information

Arthur Cole graduated from Watertown High School in 1938. He participated in the band and orchestra before attending college for three years.

Lt Cole was a member of a three man patrol sent out to locate the boundaries of a mine field and get an enemy prisoner at Kampen. The patrol was attacked by the enemy, two men escaped, one of these stated that Lt Cole was shot in the stomach and chest and he believed he was dead. The other dazed by an explosion of an enemy hand grenade, after regaining consciousness he saw several of the enemy with a stretcher remove someone from the vicinity where he had last seen Lt Cole. The enemy occupied this area for some time following this action. A report of the 788th Graves Registration Detachment indicates there is no record of burial of Lt Cole and an extensive area search as well as individual investigations failed to furnish information as to the ultimate disposition of his remains. It was therefore concluded that they are nonrecoverable.

Pfc John Moszer, who was one of the members of the patrol, recalled: "I was in a shell hole about twenty yards from the enemy line and Lt Cole was kneeling beside the hole when a German machine gun opened up, hitting Lt Cole in the chest and stomach. He fell across me without saying a word. I got out from under him and threw a hand grenade. The enemy fire increased after that and believed Lt Cole was dead, I removed his wallet from his pocket and crawled back away from the enemy line.