Congressman Smith Honors Local Doolittle Tokyo Raider

It is my privilege to honor the proud legacy of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders and present Lt. Col. Cole with a flag flown over the Capitol in his honor and a bronze medal replica of the Congressional Gold medal. It is understandable that only a city park would be big enough to hold everyone who would want to come to a special occasion like this.

The Doolittle Tokyo Raiders exemplify courage and patriotism. Their actions in 1942 are read about in books, seen in documentaries, and discussed in classrooms.

The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 destroyed many of our Navy ships and injured and killed many Americans. But it did not break our determination to defend ourselves and protect our freedoms. About four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, an all-volunteer effort that involved 80 men and sixteen B-25 bombers struck military targets in Japan. Col. Cole was Doolittle’s co-pilot in aircraft #1, helping to ensure the mission was a success.

As one of just two surviving Doolittle Tokyo Raiders, Lieutenant Colonel Cole is both a local and a national treasure. The House of Representatives passed a resolution last year to honor the outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service of the World War II members of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders. Earlier this year, the House presented them with the Congressional Gold Medal. Unfortunately, Col. Cole was not able to make it to D.C. for the presentation. So we decided to bring the ceremony to him.

The debt we owe our military men and women can never fully be repaid. And for that we are most grateful. Thanks go to Col. Cole for his service and congratulations to him on this well-deserved award.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Cole graduated from Steele High School in Dayton, Ohio and completed two years college at Ohio University before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in November 1940. He completed pilot training and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in July 1941. He participated in the Doolittle Raid as Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle’s co-pilot in aircraft #1. He remained in China-Burma-India after the Tokyo Raid until June 1943, and served again in the China-Burma-India Theater from October, 1943 until June, 1944. Cole now resides with family in Comfort, Texas. He is one of just two living Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.