Son of Charles and Mary (Ball) Cole. Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Welsh) Cole. He married Mary in Baltimore, Maryland in 1904.
He prepared for Harvard at John P. Hopkinson's Classical School at 29 Chestnut Street, Boston (formerly owned by Edwin Booth and now a private residence).
He attended a private school in Plymouth and the Boston Latin. Harvard Class of 1902.
In 1902, appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Navy William H. Moody, Edward enrolled at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, He was commissioned a captain in April of 1904, and later that year married on August 24, 1904 in Baltimore, Maryland.
While at Harvard, he was quarterback on the freshmen football team, he played on the baseball team, had joined the Institute of 1770, D.K.E., Phi Delta Psi, Fencing Club, and Owl Club. Upon leaving Harvard, he was employed in mining at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and later entered the brokerage business in Boston.
In the Spring of 1904, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and from May, 1904 to February, 1905, served at the Marine Barracks in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1907, he was promoted to first lieutenant.
He served in naval and military expeditions in Vera Cruz, Mexico and was appointed captain of the United States Marines, a department of the Navy, on February 25, 1914. In May of 1914, he was promoted to the rank of captain, He was at one time, stationed at the Naval Aeronautic Station in Pensacola, Florida. He was a Marine Corps member of the joint army, navy and marine corps Machine Gun Board in Washington, D.C.; Army and Navy Club in Manila, P.I.; and Navy member of the Osceola and Country Clubs in Pensacola, Florida. He served once in Porto Rico and twice in Mexico.
He wrote a book titled, A Field Book for Machine Gunners, which was published in 1917.
Lieutenant Cole invented a tripod for machine guns and a portable cart with pneumatic tires and wire wheels to carry the Lewis gun and ammunition. This became known as the "Cole Cart."
He was assigned to 6th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Brigade of Marines, 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), as Battalion Commander at Quantico, Virginia and was promoted to Temporary Major between August 17th and December 8th.
Edward was promoted to the rank of major in May of 1917, and soon after sailed on December 8, 1917 from Newport News, Virginia on the U.S.S. DeKalb to New York then onto France. He was stationed in the Bourmont training area from December to March of 1918. Then from March to May was in the front line sector to the south of Verdun. On May 31st, he left the training area near Givors-Chaumont-en-Vexin and moved to the Château-Thierry section of the front line. During combat, and was wounded on June 10th, at the Battle of Belleau Wood near Château-Thierry in the Verdun sector. On June 12th, he was transported from his original hospital to the Château de Montanglaust (American Evacuation Hospital #7) in Coulommiers, France, where he died on June 18th. The cause of death was from the wounds in the arm and leg and gas bacillus infection related to losing his right hand from a hand grenade during combat in the Battle of Belleau Wood.
At that time in 1918, Edward was interred at the temporary American military cemetery on the grounds of Château de Montanglaust, in grave #4, fourth grave in first row. He was later reinterred at the American military cemetery in Mouroux, and was reinterred one final time in 1923 at the American Belleau Wood Cemetery at Belleau.
General John J. Pershing, Commander of the AEF said, "The Battle of Belleau Wood was for the United States the biggest battle since Appomattox and the most considerable engagement American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy."
On July 7, 1918, a memorial service was held for Major Cole at the New North Unitarian Church in Hingham where the following was said about him by Reverend George B. Spurr: "I am thankful that God raised up such a man as Major Cole, a soldier worthy in every way of the respect of all who follow him. I pray we who remain at home may do our duty."
The American Legion Hall in Hingham, Massachusetts is named the Edward Ball Cole Post in his honor.
The U.S. Navy honored Major Cole by naming a torpedo destroyer the U.S.S. Cole DD155, which launched on January 11, 1919.
He received many decorations which included:
The Distinguished Service Cross [the highest U.S. military award for noncombat service]
The Navy Cross [the second highest combat decoration given by the U.S.]
The Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor) of France [France's highest recognition of merit]
The Croix de Guerre (War Cross), with Palm
1880 U.S. Census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBN-9V7N?mode=g&i=12&cc=1417683
1900 U.S. Census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QX3-VHW?mode=g&i=51&cc=1325221
He prepared for Harvard at John P. Hopkinson's Classical School at 29 Chestnut Street, Boston (formerly owned by Edwin Booth and now a private residence).
He attended a private school in Plymouth and the Boston Latin. Harvard Class of 1902.
In 1902, appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Navy William H. Moody, Edward enrolled at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, He was commissioned a captain in April of 1904, and later that year married on August 24, 1904 in Baltimore, Maryland.
While at Harvard, he was quarterback on the freshmen football team, he played on the baseball team, had joined the Institute of 1770, D.K.E., Phi Delta Psi, Fencing Club, and Owl Club. Upon leaving Harvard, he was employed in mining at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and later entered the brokerage business in Boston.
In the Spring of 1904, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and from May, 1904 to February, 1905, served at the Marine Barracks in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1907, he was promoted to first lieutenant.
He served in naval and military expeditions in Vera Cruz, Mexico and was appointed captain of the United States Marines, a department of the Navy, on February 25, 1914. In May of 1914, he was promoted to the rank of captain, He was at one time, stationed at the Naval Aeronautic Station in Pensacola, Florida. He was a Marine Corps member of the joint army, navy and marine corps Machine Gun Board in Washington, D.C.; Army and Navy Club in Manila, P.I.; and Navy member of the Osceola and Country Clubs in Pensacola, Florida. He served once in Porto Rico and twice in Mexico.
He wrote a book titled, A Field Book for Machine Gunners, which was published in 1917.
Lieutenant Cole invented a tripod for machine guns and a portable cart with pneumatic tires and wire wheels to carry the Lewis gun and ammunition. This became known as the "Cole Cart."
He was assigned to 6th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Brigade of Marines, 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), as Battalion Commander at Quantico, Virginia and was promoted to Temporary Major between August 17th and December 8th.
Edward was promoted to the rank of major in May of 1917, and soon after sailed on December 8, 1917 from Newport News, Virginia on the U.S.S. DeKalb to New York then onto France. He was stationed in the Bourmont training area from December to March of 1918. Then from March to May was in the front line sector to the south of Verdun. On May 31st, he left the training area near Givors-Chaumont-en-Vexin and moved to the Château-Thierry section of the front line. During combat, and was wounded on June 10th, at the Battle of Belleau Wood near Château-Thierry in the Verdun sector. On June 12th, he was transported from his original hospital to the Château de Montanglaust (American Evacuation Hospital #7) in Coulommiers, France, where he died on June 18th. The cause of death was from the wounds in the arm and leg and gas bacillus infection related to losing his right hand from a hand grenade during combat in the Battle of Belleau Wood.
At that time in 1918, Edward was interred at the temporary American military cemetery on the grounds of Château de Montanglaust, in grave #4, fourth grave in first row. He was later reinterred at the American military cemetery in Mouroux, and was reinterred one final time in 1923 at the American Belleau Wood Cemetery at Belleau.
General John J. Pershing, Commander of the AEF said, "The Battle of Belleau Wood was for the United States the biggest battle since Appomattox and the most considerable engagement American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy."
On July 7, 1918, a memorial service was held for Major Cole at the New North Unitarian Church in Hingham where the following was said about him by Reverend George B. Spurr: "I am thankful that God raised up such a man as Major Cole, a soldier worthy in every way of the respect of all who follow him. I pray we who remain at home may do our duty."
The American Legion Hall in Hingham, Massachusetts is named the Edward Ball Cole Post in his honor.
The U.S. Navy honored Major Cole by naming a torpedo destroyer the U.S.S. Cole DD155, which launched on January 11, 1919.
He received many decorations which included:
The Distinguished Service Cross [the highest U.S. military award for noncombat service]
The Navy Cross [the second highest combat decoration given by the U.S.]
The Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor) of France [France's highest recognition of merit]
The Croix de Guerre (War Cross), with Palm
1880 U.S. Census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBN-9V7N?mode=g&i=12&cc=1417683
1900 U.S. Census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QX3-VHW?mode=g&i=51&cc=1325221
Son of Charles and Mary (Ball) Cole. Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Welsh) Cole. He married Mary in Baltimore, Maryland in 1904.
He prepared for Harvard at John P. Hopkinson's Classical School at 29 Chestnut Street, Boston (formerly owned by Edwin Booth and now a private residence).
He attended a private school in Plymouth and the Boston Latin. Harvard Class of 1902.
In 1902, appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Navy William H. Moody, Edward enrolled at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, He was commissioned a captain in April of 1904, and later that year married on August 24, 1904 in Baltimore, Maryland.
While at Harvard, he was quarterback on the freshmen football team, he played on the baseball team, had joined the Institute of 1770, D.K.E., Phi Delta Psi, Fencing Club, and Owl Club. Upon leaving Harvard, he was employed in mining at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and later entered the brokerage business in Boston.
In the Spring of 1904, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and from May, 1904 to February, 1905, served at the Marine Barracks in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1907, he was promoted to first lieutenant.
He served in naval and military expeditions in Vera Cruz, Mexico and was appointed captain of the United States Marines, a department of the Navy, on February 25, 1914. In May of 1914, he was promoted to the rank of captain, He was at one time, stationed at the Naval Aeronautic Station in Pensacola, Florida. He was a Marine Corps member of the joint army, navy and marine corps Machine Gun Board in Washington, D.C.; Army and Navy Club in Manila, P.I.; and Navy member of the Osceola and Country Clubs in Pensacola, Florida. He served once in Porto Rico and twice in Mexico.
He wrote a book titled, A Field Book for Machine Gunners, which was published in 1917.
Lieutenant Cole invented a tripod for machine guns and a portable cart with pneumatic tires and wire wheels to carry the Lewis gun and ammunition. This became known as the "Cole Cart."
He was assigned to 6th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Brigade of Marines, 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), as Battalion Commander at Quantico, Virginia and was promoted to Temporary Major between August 17th and December 8th.
Edward was promoted to the rank of major in May of 1917, and soon after sailed on December 8, 1917 from Newport News, Virginia on the U.S.S. DeKalb to New York then onto France. He was stationed in the Bourmont training area from December to March of 1918. Then from March to May was in the front line sector to the south of Verdun. On May 31st, he left the training area near Givors-Chaumont-en-Vexin and moved to the Château-Thierry section of the front line. During combat, and was wounded on June 10th, at the Battle of Belleau Wood near Château-Thierry in the Verdun sector. On June 12th, he was transported from his original hospital to the Château de Montanglaust (American Evacuation Hospital #7) in Coulommiers, France, where he died on June 18th. The cause of death was from the wounds in the arm and leg and gas bacillus infection related to losing his right hand from a hand grenade during combat in the Battle of Belleau Wood.
At that time in 1918, Edward was interred at the temporary American military cemetery on the grounds of Château de Montanglaust, in grave #4, fourth grave in first row. He was later reinterred at the American military cemetery in Mouroux, and was reinterred one final time in 1923 at the American Belleau Wood Cemetery at Belleau.
General John J. Pershing, Commander of the AEF said, "The Battle of Belleau Wood was for the United States the biggest battle since Appomattox and the most considerable engagement American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy."
On July 7, 1918, a memorial service was held for Major Cole at the New North Unitarian Church in Hingham where the following was said about him by Reverend George B. Spurr: "I am thankful that God raised up such a man as Major Cole, a soldier worthy in every way of the respect of all who follow him. I pray we who remain at home may do our duty."
The American Legion Hall in Hingham, Massachusetts is named the Edward Ball Cole Post in his honor.
The U.S. Navy honored Major Cole by naming a torpedo destroyer the U.S.S. Cole DD155, which launched on January 11, 1919.
He received many decorations which included:
The Distinguished Service Cross [the highest U.S. military award for noncombat service]
The Navy Cross [the second highest combat decoration given by the U.S.]
The Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor) of France [France's highest recognition of merit]
The Croix de Guerre (War Cross), with Palm
1880 U.S. Census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBN-9V7N?mode=g&i=12&cc=1417683
1900 U.S. Census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QX3-VHW?mode=g&i=51&cc=1325221
He prepared for Harvard at John P. Hopkinson's Classical School at 29 Chestnut Street, Boston (formerly owned by Edwin Booth and now a private residence).
He attended a private school in Plymouth and the Boston Latin. Harvard Class of 1902.
In 1902, appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Navy William H. Moody, Edward enrolled at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, He was commissioned a captain in April of 1904, and later that year married on August 24, 1904 in Baltimore, Maryland.
While at Harvard, he was quarterback on the freshmen football team, he played on the baseball team, had joined the Institute of 1770, D.K.E., Phi Delta Psi, Fencing Club, and Owl Club. Upon leaving Harvard, he was employed in mining at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and later entered the brokerage business in Boston.
In the Spring of 1904, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, and from May, 1904 to February, 1905, served at the Marine Barracks in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1907, he was promoted to first lieutenant.
He served in naval and military expeditions in Vera Cruz, Mexico and was appointed captain of the United States Marines, a department of the Navy, on February 25, 1914. In May of 1914, he was promoted to the rank of captain, He was at one time, stationed at the Naval Aeronautic Station in Pensacola, Florida. He was a Marine Corps member of the joint army, navy and marine corps Machine Gun Board in Washington, D.C.; Army and Navy Club in Manila, P.I.; and Navy member of the Osceola and Country Clubs in Pensacola, Florida. He served once in Porto Rico and twice in Mexico.
He wrote a book titled, A Field Book for Machine Gunners, which was published in 1917.
Lieutenant Cole invented a tripod for machine guns and a portable cart with pneumatic tires and wire wheels to carry the Lewis gun and ammunition. This became known as the "Cole Cart."
He was assigned to 6th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Brigade of Marines, 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), as Battalion Commander at Quantico, Virginia and was promoted to Temporary Major between August 17th and December 8th.
Edward was promoted to the rank of major in May of 1917, and soon after sailed on December 8, 1917 from Newport News, Virginia on the U.S.S. DeKalb to New York then onto France. He was stationed in the Bourmont training area from December to March of 1918. Then from March to May was in the front line sector to the south of Verdun. On May 31st, he left the training area near Givors-Chaumont-en-Vexin and moved to the Château-Thierry section of the front line. During combat, and was wounded on June 10th, at the Battle of Belleau Wood near Château-Thierry in the Verdun sector. On June 12th, he was transported from his original hospital to the Château de Montanglaust (American Evacuation Hospital #7) in Coulommiers, France, where he died on June 18th. The cause of death was from the wounds in the arm and leg and gas bacillus infection related to losing his right hand from a hand grenade during combat in the Battle of Belleau Wood.
At that time in 1918, Edward was interred at the temporary American military cemetery on the grounds of Château de Montanglaust, in grave #4, fourth grave in first row. He was later reinterred at the American military cemetery in Mouroux, and was reinterred one final time in 1923 at the American Belleau Wood Cemetery at Belleau.
General John J. Pershing, Commander of the AEF said, "The Battle of Belleau Wood was for the United States the biggest battle since Appomattox and the most considerable engagement American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy."
On July 7, 1918, a memorial service was held for Major Cole at the New North Unitarian Church in Hingham where the following was said about him by Reverend George B. Spurr: "I am thankful that God raised up such a man as Major Cole, a soldier worthy in every way of the respect of all who follow him. I pray we who remain at home may do our duty."
The American Legion Hall in Hingham, Massachusetts is named the Edward Ball Cole Post in his honor.
The U.S. Navy honored Major Cole by naming a torpedo destroyer the U.S.S. Cole DD155, which launched on January 11, 1919.
He received many decorations which included:
The Distinguished Service Cross [the highest U.S. military award for noncombat service]
The Navy Cross [the second highest combat decoration given by the U.S.]
The Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honor) of France [France's highest recognition of merit]
The Croix de Guerre (War Cross), with Palm
1880 U.S. Census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBN-9V7N?mode=g&i=12&cc=1417683
1900 U.S. Census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QX3-VHW?mode=g&i=51&cc=1325221
Gravesite Details
Interred in 1918 at the temporary American military cemetery on the grounds of Château de Montanglaust, then was later reinterred at the American military cemetery in Mouroux. In 1923 was reinterred at the American Belleau Wood Cemetery in Belleau.
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