Picture by John Reidy

Picture by John Reidy

Remembering Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Cole
As I stood in the middle of the ceremony in memory of Col. Cole. I look to my right and see the Veterans taking their seats with many people taking pictures of them, shaking their hands, and some just staring in amazement at the bravery they had done by risking their lives. To my left arrived elite soldiers with badges of merit ranging from airborne trained troops to 10th mountain special forces. Children were once again present to see the faces of these heroes. Speeches were given and a presentation of the Dutch and American flags were revealed to show the bond that had been formed.

This was followed by a moving display with two fighter jets making multiple rounds overhead that brought back memories to the Veterans of the relief they felt whenever air support arrived. As the fighter planes flew overhead, you could have looked down from that plane and saw a great crowd gathered around one individual. That man was Bill Cowell. Everyone stood listening intently as this was the beginning of where he gave a detailed account for one of his battlegrounds.

I tried to make the people around me disappear and try to visualize a war zone as American troops came through the wood line to be immediately shot by enemy fire and their bodies falling limply to the ground but it was too difficult with the lush green trees and children playing in the field. But it happened and there was at least one veteran at the ceremony that could visualize what it looked like much better than I. That man is Bill Cowell.

No words can place the emotion that was made during this day. This can especially be said when Bill Cowell started reliving the battlegrounds that all of us gathered at for the ceremony. This is where Mr. Colwell took us all back for a quick glimpse into the memories that were left buried along with all of his fellow soldiers. The memories of the respected death of Col. Cole, the sniper fire from the enemy that came within inches over the top of his helmet, the artillery fire that took off the body limbs of a fellow comrade before his very own eyes, and I couldn’t even start to comprehend the pain and suffering that had to have caused him. Mr. Colwell then relived the account of the dreadful, yet necessary experience of killing his first German.

He distinctly remembered what the man looked like when he came around the hedge rose within point blank firing distance. There was still a vivid image that showed this German with sweat running down his face. The anguish he felt after killing this man was very great after the enemy lay lifeless on the ground in front of him. Mr. Colwell couldn’t help but think back to the life the other man might of had. He wondered about the type of family he had and that he will never be able to erase the image of the death for the rest of his life. He said these things with tears in his eyes.

This is just one account of the MILLIONS of Veterans that served during World War II. Dutch historians wanted to know his story. Some just wanted his autograph. But above all and most importantly, Mr. Colwell was able to find a sense of closure for a battleground that once haunted his dreams and had been infested with death, destruction, and violence.

-Written by College of the Ozarks student

Trip provided by the Greatest Generations Foundation