3-502 PIR, Lt-Col Robert G. Cole’s battle for Carentan:
Robert G Cole was a Lieutenant-Colonel from the 101st Airborne Division.
As a son of an army Colonel, Robert decided to join the army to become a
career soldier. So that’s what he did on 1 July 1934. A year later he was honorably discharged
to join the military academy of Westpoint. He graduated in 1939.
After graduation he got home to marry his love Allie Mae Wilson.
He then moved to Fort Lewis, where he was appointed to the 15th Infantry Division as a
Second-Lieutenant. He worked as an officer there until he joined the paratroops in 1941.
Robert joined the 501 Parachute Infantry Battalion, to earn his jumpwings and become
a paratrooper.
In the early ‘40’s, the American army changed its command structure. The parachute battalions
changed into regiments, and Robert transfered to 3rd battlion of the 502 Parachute Infantry
Regiment (3-502 PIR) to take command. Ranking up in the army from a Second-Lieutenant
to a Lieutenant-Colonel.
In 1943 the 101st Airborne Division was sent to England, to prepare for the invasion of
fortress Europe. A year later, 6 June 1944, the invasion started and the paratroopers went to
war.
The 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions were the first to jump into occupied France and cease
certain important areas. An important part of the invasion, was to capture Carentan. Carentan
the link between Utah and Omaha beach.
career soldier. So that’s what he did on 1 July 1934. A year later he was honorably discharged
to join the military academy of Westpoint. He graduated in 1939.
After graduation he got home to marry his love Allie Mae Wilson.
He then moved to Fort Lewis, where he was appointed to the 15th Infantry Division as a
Second-
a paratrooper.
In the early ‘40’s, the American army changed its command structure. The parachute battalions
changed into regiments, and Robert transfered to 3rd battlion of the 502 Parachute Infantry
Regiment (3-
In 1943 the 101st Airborne Division was sent to England, to prepare for the invasion of
fortress Europe. A year later, 6 June 1944, the invasion started and the paratroopers went to
war.
The 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions were the first to jump into occupied France and cease
certain important areas. An important part of the invasion, was to capture Carentan. Carentan
the link between Utah and Omaha beach.
On 10 June Cole and his 3-502 PIR were moving up the causeway in between St. Come-du-Mont and Carentan. Trying to capture
territory over the Germans. Close to the outskirts of Carentan, the Germans had a well defended position in the hedgerows near the Ingouf
farm. While moving up the causeway, Cole’s men had to move through intense enemy fire, causing a lot of casualties in their ranks.
The causeway is now nicknamed: Purple heart lane.
At the end of the causeway, the Germans placed some obstacles, which acted as a bottleneck for Cole’s paratroopers. Slowly advancing, the
paratroopers finally got into positions at the last bridge over the Madeleine river leading up to Carentan. Only 265 men of the initial 400 were
left and prepared for an assault on the farm.
With the Germans in well defended positions and their fire still supressing the paratroopers, Cole had to make a difficult decision. Cole ordered
his men to fix bayonets and prepare for a bayonet charge. Cole, like many other Airborne commanders, led from the front and ran with his men
towards the hedgerows. They reached the German lines and got into hand-to-hand combat, finally overpowering the enemy.
Cole’s charge proved costly, leaving him 130 of the 265 men. Cole set up defensive positions at the Ingouf farm and called for 1-502 PIR to
support his exhausted troops. For the bayonet charge and his efforts that day Cole was to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest American
medal a soldier can earn.
farm. While moving up the causeway, Cole’s men had to move through intense enemy fire, causing a lot of casualties in their ranks.
The causeway is now nicknamed: Purple heart lane.
At the end of the causeway, the Germans placed some obstacles, which acted as a bottleneck for Cole’s paratroopers. Slowly advancing, the
paratroopers finally got into positions at the last bridge over the Madeleine river leading up to Carentan. Only 265 men of the initial 400 were
left and prepared for an assault on the farm.
With the Germans in well defended positions and their fire still supressing the paratroopers, Cole had to make a difficult decision. Cole ordered
his men to fix bayonets and prepare for a bayonet charge. Cole, like many other Airborne commanders, led from the front and ran with his men
towards the hedgerows. They reached the German lines and got into hand-
medal a soldier can earn.
Photo: screen shots from official footage recorded in France just after D-day: Cecil Simmons and Robert G Cole talking, Robert
G Cole and John P Stopka showing their trophy, Robert G Cole talking about the attack on Ingouf farm (farm visible on the right)
