SON OF FORMER JOPLIN COUPLE DIES IN AIR ACTION OVER THE BURMA ROAD
Ensign Thomas J. Cole, Jr., whose death in action in air patrol service over the Burma road was reported last week, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Clayton, Mo., formerly of Joplin. His mother is the former Miss Stoney Jennings of Joplin.
Ensign Cole was graduated from Westminster college at Fulton, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He visited relatives and fraternity brothers in Joplin frequently. Following graduation, he served three years in the naval air corps at Pensacola and San Diego. He enlisted last fall with the American volunteer air group for special service in China and had been stationed at Rangoon, Burma.
In a radiogram received by his parents, January 29, Ensign Cole wrote "Hello. All's well," and sent a personal message to his younger brother, Jack Cole. Mrs. Cole relayed that information to her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Hoglund, 627 Byers avenue, in a letter received here a few hours before the information of the young aviator's death. In the letter, Mrs. Cole stated that her son's group had been credited with bringing down a greater number of enemy planes than any other division in the foreign service. At the time he had last written home, there had been no fatalities among the A.V.G. and only one accident, when a buddy had fallen behind the Japanese lines, but had escaped through India and returned to his post.
Thomas J. Cole, sr., who is attorney for the Missouri Pacific railroad in St. Louis, formerly was secretary to Judge Fred L. Williams of the Missouri supreme court and later served as secretary to the late Governor Frederick D. Gardner. Young Cole was born in Jefferson City during the residence of his parents there. He is survived also by a sister, Mrs. Gerald McNew of Carthage.
JOPLIN GLOBE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1942, SECTION A-7
A "FLYING TIGER," KILLED IN ACTION, CITED FOR BRAVERY
PARENTS OF THOMAS J. COLE, JR., FORMER JOPLINITES, RECEIVE AWARD FROM CHINESE
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Cole, former Joplin residents who now reside in St. Louis, have received from the Chinese government a citation of the bravery of their son, Thomas J. Cole, jr., a member of the famed "Flying Tigers" who was killed in action January 30 during the fight for Burma.
Young Cole left San Francisco September 2, 1941, with the American Volunteer Group that was to make history against superior numbers of Japanese airmen. Cole's plane was shot down on the Moulmein fron and he became the second A.V.G. casualty. His associates wrote his parents that he was machine gunned to death as he floated down to earth in a parachute.
The citation, in Chinese, bears the seal of Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek and is accompanied by a record of military achievement which states that the flier "displayed unparalled courage in fighting the common enemy without minding any sacrifice and dedicated his life to service. The military result achieved by him is worthy of our profound admiration."
Young Cole was a grandson of the late John B. Cole, Joplin attorney. He had visited in Joplin on numerous occasions but never resided here.
above submitted courtesy of:
Eric Ackerman
Topeka, Kansas
Ensign Thomas J. Cole, Jr., whose death in action in air patrol service over the Burma road was reported last week, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Clayton, Mo., formerly of Joplin. His mother is the former Miss Stoney Jennings of Joplin.
Ensign Cole was graduated from Westminster college at Fulton, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He visited relatives and fraternity brothers in Joplin frequently. Following graduation, he served three years in the naval air corps at Pensacola and San Diego. He enlisted last fall with the American volunteer air group for special service in China and had been stationed at Rangoon, Burma.
In a radiogram received by his parents, January 29, Ensign Cole wrote "Hello. All's well," and sent a personal message to his younger brother, Jack Cole. Mrs. Cole relayed that information to her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Hoglund, 627 Byers avenue, in a letter received here a few hours before the information of the young aviator's death. In the letter, Mrs. Cole stated that her son's group had been credited with bringing down a greater number of enemy planes than any other division in the foreign service. At the time he had last written home, there had been no fatalities among the A.V.G. and only one accident, when a buddy had fallen behind the Japanese lines, but had escaped through India and returned to his post.
Thomas J. Cole, sr., who is attorney for the Missouri Pacific railroad in St. Louis, formerly was secretary to Judge Fred L. Williams of the Missouri supreme court and later served as secretary to the late Governor Frederick D. Gardner. Young Cole was born in Jefferson City during the residence of his parents there. He is survived also by a sister, Mrs. Gerald McNew of Carthage.
JOPLIN GLOBE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1942, SECTION A-7
A "FLYING TIGER," KILLED IN ACTION, CITED FOR BRAVERY
PARENTS OF THOMAS J. COLE, JR., FORMER JOPLINITES, RECEIVE AWARD FROM CHINESE
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Cole, former Joplin residents who now reside in St. Louis, have received from the Chinese government a citation of the bravery of their son, Thomas J. Cole, jr., a member of the famed "Flying Tigers" who was killed in action January 30 during the fight for Burma.
Young Cole left San Francisco September 2, 1941, with the American Volunteer Group that was to make history against superior numbers of Japanese airmen. Cole's plane was shot down on the Moulmein fron and he became the second A.V.G. casualty. His associates wrote his parents that he was machine gunned to death as he floated down to earth in a parachute.
The citation, in Chinese, bears the seal of Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek and is accompanied by a record of military achievement which states that the flier "displayed unparalled courage in fighting the common enemy without minding any sacrifice and dedicated his life to service. The military result achieved by him is worthy of our profound admiration."
Young Cole was a grandson of the late John B. Cole, Joplin attorney. He had visited in Joplin on numerous occasions but never resided here.
above submitted courtesy of:
Eric Ackerman
Topeka, Kansas
SON OF FORMER JOPLIN COUPLE DIES IN AIR ACTION OVER THE BURMA ROAD
Ensign Thomas J. Cole, Jr., whose death in action in air patrol service over the Burma road was reported last week, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Clayton, Mo., formerly of Joplin. His mother is the former Miss Stoney Jennings of Joplin.
Ensign Cole was graduated from Westminster college at Fulton, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He visited relatives and fraternity brothers in Joplin frequently. Following graduation, he served three years in the naval air corps at Pensacola and San Diego. He enlisted last fall with the American volunteer air group for special service in China and had been stationed at Rangoon, Burma.
In a radiogram received by his parents, January 29, Ensign Cole wrote "Hello. All's well," and sent a personal message to his younger brother, Jack Cole. Mrs. Cole relayed that information to her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Hoglund, 627 Byers avenue, in a letter received here a few hours before the information of the young aviator's death. In the letter, Mrs. Cole stated that her son's group had been credited with bringing down a greater number of enemy planes than any other division in the foreign service. At the time he had last written home, there had been no fatalities among the A.V.G. and only one accident, when a buddy had fallen behind the Japanese lines, but had escaped through India and returned to his post.
Thomas J. Cole, sr., who is attorney for the Missouri Pacific railroad in St. Louis, formerly was secretary to Judge Fred L. Williams of the Missouri supreme court and later served as secretary to the late Governor Frederick D. Gardner. Young Cole was born in Jefferson City during the residence of his parents there. He is survived also by a sister, Mrs. Gerald McNew of Carthage.
JOPLIN GLOBE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1942, SECTION A-7
A "FLYING TIGER," KILLED IN ACTION, CITED FOR BRAVERY
PARENTS OF THOMAS J. COLE, JR., FORMER JOPLINITES, RECEIVE AWARD FROM CHINESE
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Cole, former Joplin residents who now reside in St. Louis, have received from the Chinese government a citation of the bravery of their son, Thomas J. Cole, jr., a member of the famed "Flying Tigers" who was killed in action January 30 during the fight for Burma.
Young Cole left San Francisco September 2, 1941, with the American Volunteer Group that was to make history against superior numbers of Japanese airmen. Cole's plane was shot down on the Moulmein fron and he became the second A.V.G. casualty. His associates wrote his parents that he was machine gunned to death as he floated down to earth in a parachute.
The citation, in Chinese, bears the seal of Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek and is accompanied by a record of military achievement which states that the flier "displayed unparalled courage in fighting the common enemy without minding any sacrifice and dedicated his life to service. The military result achieved by him is worthy of our profound admiration."
Young Cole was a grandson of the late John B. Cole, Joplin attorney. He had visited in Joplin on numerous occasions but never resided here.
above submitted courtesy of:
Eric Ackerman
Topeka, Kansas
Ensign Thomas J. Cole, Jr., whose death in action in air patrol service over the Burma road was reported last week, was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Clayton, Mo., formerly of Joplin. His mother is the former Miss Stoney Jennings of Joplin.
Ensign Cole was graduated from Westminster college at Fulton, where he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He visited relatives and fraternity brothers in Joplin frequently. Following graduation, he served three years in the naval air corps at Pensacola and San Diego. He enlisted last fall with the American volunteer air group for special service in China and had been stationed at Rangoon, Burma.
In a radiogram received by his parents, January 29, Ensign Cole wrote "Hello. All's well," and sent a personal message to his younger brother, Jack Cole. Mrs. Cole relayed that information to her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Hoglund, 627 Byers avenue, in a letter received here a few hours before the information of the young aviator's death. In the letter, Mrs. Cole stated that her son's group had been credited with bringing down a greater number of enemy planes than any other division in the foreign service. At the time he had last written home, there had been no fatalities among the A.V.G. and only one accident, when a buddy had fallen behind the Japanese lines, but had escaped through India and returned to his post.
Thomas J. Cole, sr., who is attorney for the Missouri Pacific railroad in St. Louis, formerly was secretary to Judge Fred L. Williams of the Missouri supreme court and later served as secretary to the late Governor Frederick D. Gardner. Young Cole was born in Jefferson City during the residence of his parents there. He is survived also by a sister, Mrs. Gerald McNew of Carthage.
JOPLIN GLOBE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1942, SECTION A-7
A "FLYING TIGER," KILLED IN ACTION, CITED FOR BRAVERY
PARENTS OF THOMAS J. COLE, JR., FORMER JOPLINITES, RECEIVE AWARD FROM CHINESE
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Cole, former Joplin residents who now reside in St. Louis, have received from the Chinese government a citation of the bravery of their son, Thomas J. Cole, jr., a member of the famed "Flying Tigers" who was killed in action January 30 during the fight for Burma.
Young Cole left San Francisco September 2, 1941, with the American Volunteer Group that was to make history against superior numbers of Japanese airmen. Cole's plane was shot down on the Moulmein fron and he became the second A.V.G. casualty. His associates wrote his parents that he was machine gunned to death as he floated down to earth in a parachute.
The citation, in Chinese, bears the seal of Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek and is accompanied by a record of military achievement which states that the flier "displayed unparalled courage in fighting the common enemy without minding any sacrifice and dedicated his life to service. The military result achieved by him is worthy of our profound admiration."
Young Cole was a grandson of the late John B. Cole, Joplin attorney. He had visited in Joplin on numerous occasions but never resided here.
above submitted courtesy of:
Eric Ackerman
Topeka, Kansas
Inscription
The Flying Tigers
Rangoon, Burma
American Volunteer Group in Defense of Freedom
Shot down over Moulmein, Thailand, strafing Japanese - held air base commissioned (posthumously) Captain in the Chinese Army by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek and a grateful Republic of China.
I've topped the wind, swept heights with easy grace, and while with silent, lifting, mind I've trod the huge untrespassed sanctity of space and put out my hand and touched the face of God.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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