Army Staff Sgt. Timothy B. Cole Jr.

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Timothy B. Cole Jr., 28, of Missouri City, Texas

SSgt. Cole was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died June 6, 2007 in Sadah, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.

82nd Airborne Division paratrooper killed in Iraq
The Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — An 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper has died from injuries suffered when a bomb detonated near his patrol in Iraq, the military said June 8.

Staff Sgt. Timothy B. Cole Jr., 28, of Missouri City, Texas, was on patrol in As Sadah when the bomb detonated June 6, the military said.

Cole, who joined the Army in October 2001, was on his second deployment to Iraq. Before joining the Army, Cole served in the Marine Corps from October 1998 to March 2001.

“Staff Sgt. Cole was a tough man, a proven combat leader, and was well-liked and respected by those that knew him,” said Lt. Col. Andrew P. Poppas, commander of the 5th Squadron, 73rd Calvary, to which Cole was assigned in March 2006. “Even in the most challenging of situations, Sgt. Cole’s calm demeanor and quick wit always had a way to make everyone laugh. His friendship and leadership will truly be missed.”

Among the decorations and awards that Cole received were the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Survivors include his wife, Lindsey W. Cole of Fort Bragg; daughters Alexus, Adrianna and Laura; son, Kross; and his parents, Timothy B. Cole Sr. and Connie L. Cole, both of Oakdale, La.

Funeral set in Oakdale for Army sergeant killed in Iraq
The Associated Press

OAKDALE, La. — Funeral services were scheduled June 15 for Staff Sgt. Timothy B. Cole Jr., who was killed in Iraq.

Cole died June 6 from injuries he suffered when a bomb went off near his patrol unit in As Sadah, Iraq. He was a cavalry scout with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

His body was brought home to Oakdale this week.

Cole attended Louisiana State University at Alexandria and Northwestern State University before joining the Marine Corps in 1998. He served in supply and logistics for four years and was deployed to Afghanistan.

Upon leaving the Marines, he entered the Army in 2005 as a cavalry scout.

Upon completing training at Fort Knox, Ky., he was reassigned to 73rd Calvary, where he served as a gunner and then a team leader in an airborne reconnaissance squadron. He deployed for his second tour to Iraq in August.

His mother, Connie Cole, told The (Lake Charles) American Press that her son joined the Army because the Marines would not take him back because of his tattoos. He had tattoos on each arm “Live by the Gun” on one, “Die by the Gun” on the other. He also had tattoos of a Humvee and soldier on his back, the word “Soldier” on his neck and a machine gun on his arm.

“The Army took him, but his love will always remain with the Marines,” she said.

She said that he told her that if anything happened to him in Iraq he wanted to be buried in Marine dress blues and for his family to help take care of his children.

Cole is survived by his wife, Lindsey; three daughters, Alexus, Adrianna and Laura; son, Kross; and parents, Timothy B. Cole Sr. and Connie Cole of Oakdale.

N.C.-based soldier remembered as a hero
The Associated Press

OAKDALE, La. — Army Staff Sgt. Timothy B. Cole Jr. was remembered June 15 as a hero with a big heart who always looked out for others.

Cole, 28, died June 6 from injuries he suffered when a bomb went off near his patrol unit in As Sadah, Iraq. He was a cavalry scout with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. Brandon Carpenter said Cole used to give him a hard time while hanging out with friends at the Calcasieu River. It’s something the National Guardsman, who first met Cole when he was 12, will never forget.

“We had many titles for Timothy — funny, tough, wild and crazy — but right now the only one I can say is hero,” Carpenter said standing near Cole’s flag-draped casket.

Cole had already survived two bomb attacks before his death, family said. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq and had served one tour in Afghanistan.

Carpenter said he was not surprised to learn that Cole was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Valor for holding off a large enemy force until a wounded paratrooper could be moved.

He said Cole always looked out for others.

Nearly 700 people gathered for Cole’s funeral in First Baptist Church of Oakdale and for his burial in Hampton Memorial Cemetery in Elizabeth.

They laughed, shed tears and smiled as they remembered him.

The Rev. Stephen Laughlin, pastor of First Baptist, where Cole attended church until he joined the military, lauded Cole as an American hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“The sad part is we have no ability to shake his hand or put our arms around him to say ‘Thank you,’ ” he said, urging those attending to stand and applaud the active-duty service members attending the service.

Cole attended Louisiana State University at Alexandria and Northwestern State University before joining the Marine Corps in 1998. He served in supply and logistics for four years and was deployed to Afghanistan.

Upon leaving the Marines, he entered the Army in 2005 as a cavalry scout.

Cole is survived by his wife, Lindsey; three daughters, Alexus, Adrianna and Laura; son, Kross; and parents, Timothy B. Cole Sr. and Connie Cole of Oakdale.

Family recalls soldier killed in Iraq
The Associated Press

Army Staff Sgt. Timothy B. Cole Jr. loved tattoos, even if the Marines did not.

Cole had tattoos on each arm — one etched with the phrase “Live by The Gun” and the other “Die by The Gun.”

He joined the Corps out of high school in 1998 and served in Afghanistan. After leaving the Marines, he joined the Army in August 2005.

“Timothy had gotten tattoos while he was in the Marines, and when he wanted to rejoin the Marines, they didn’t want him because of the tattoos,” said Dessie Johnson, his grandmother. “He had a tattoo of a Humvee on his back and the word soldier on his neck.

The Marines missed out on a dedicated soldier.”

Cole, 28, of Oakdale, La., died June 6 in Sadah, Iraq, of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

His mother, Connie Cole, said her son “always chose the hardest, most dangerous jobs. The military was his life in fact, he wanted to become an Army Ranger and was working towards that goal.”

Cole, who also attended LSU at Alexandria and Northwestern State University, is survived by his wife, Lindsey, three daughters, Alexus, Adrianna and Laura, a stepdaughter, Katelyn, and his son, Kross.

Army Staff Sgt. Timothy B. Cole Jr. was killed in action on 7/6/07.