William Cole:
CLASS OF 1981
Lake Braddock Secondary SchoolClass of 1981
Burke, VA
Liberty UniversityClass of 2001
Lynchburg, VA
Central Texas CollegeClass of 1993
Killeen, TX
William's Story
SSG, USA (Ret.). I served in the US Marine Corps from 1981-88, in the 2d and 3d Marine Divisions, and 2d Air Delivery Platoon. Was part of Operation Poker Bluff at Isla del Tigre, Honduras, in the Gulf of Fonseca, from 1983-84, guarding a mountaintop radar site from Nicaraguan insurgents. It was the only “real world” mission I ever did in The Corps. It was also the only one where I was deployed to a Central American jungle, instead of a Middle Eastern desert, and the only one where we faced Soviet- and Cuban-backed communists, instead of Arab dictators and jihadists. Afterwords, served in the US Army from 1988-94 in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). I instructed at The Air Assault School from 1989-90. Also was part of Desert Shield and Desert Storm from 1990-91, and an MFO-Sinai rotation from 1992-93. There was a break in active service from 1994-99. I served in the Florida National Guard from 1998-99. Was part of the last Florida Guard unit to deploy to Fort Sherman, Panama, before it was shut down, later in 1999. Also in 1999, I rejoined the Regular Army. Served in the 82d Airborne Division, un...Expand for more
til 2002; In 2000, participated in the longest airborne operation in US history from Green Ramp at Pope AFB, NC, to Novileskiy Drop Zone, near Almaty, Kazakhstan, in what was Soviet Central Asia. The flight was 19 hours, with 3 air-to-air refuelings. Later, I was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in 2002. Participated in two Iraqi Freedom tours, from 2003-04 and 2005-06. When Saddam was captured, I was at the division headquarters at the time, and was part of detail assigned to inventory Saddam’s “wealth.” Among his “effects” was roughly $800,000 in US greenbacks. I retired in 2007. There was a grand total of 75 documented jumps with the Marine Corps, the 101st, and the 82d. Also was Airborne-, Parachute Rigger-, Jumpmaster-, Air Assault-, Rappelmaster-, and Pathfinder-qualified. Plus awarded bronze West German jump wings. I want to say, I’d do it again, but (and it pains me to say it!) the way that Brandon is damaging the country, possibly irreparably, it looks like my service was a waste of time and effort. Really tried to limit the number of times “I” was used, but “I” am not that good!
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