Captain James Cole

James Lee “Jim” Cole was born on April 10, 1945, near Eunice, Louisiana, to John L. Cole and Hilda Spears Cole. He grew up alongside his older brother, John R. Cole, who later served as a helicopter pilot in the United States Marine Corps.

Jim left Thibodaux High School in Thibodaux, Louisiana, to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. After boot camp at Parris Island, he deployed to Vietnam with Platoon 145 and served two tours, alternating service in-country with his brother, John. In 1965, Jim married Dorothy “Dea” Albright, and together they built a large and loving family with their four daughters—Kim, Michelle, Rachel, and Heather.

Over the course of his military career, he was stationed in Bermuda, Camp Lejeune, Troy, Alabama, Naval Air Station Keflavik in Iceland, Okinawa, and Roanoke, Virginia. While stationed in Troy, he earned his GED and completed his college degree with a 4.0 GPA, an achievement that helped lead him to Officer Candidate School. He remained deeply connected to the men of his platoon, reuniting yearly with surviving members until his death in 2023. In 2019, he returned to Vietnam, a journey that reflected both remembrance and reconciliation, while honoring the memory of the Marines he had lost.

Although he received many awards and medals during his years of service, Jim rarely spoke about them or wore them publicly. He took particular pride in his Sharpshooter Award. More than honors, however, he valued the opportunities the Marine Corps gave him to see the world and experience different cultures and people. He was especially proud of his time at Naval Air Station Keflavik, where he worked in the nuclear missile silos and where he and his family formed lasting friendships while embracing Icelandic culture. In the early 1980s, while assigned to the recruiting station in Roanoke, Virginia, he was entrusted with notifying the families of fallen Marines—a duty he carried out with great dignity, honor, and compassion.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Jim worked in corporate security and labor security roles before becoming a security consultant for the U.S. State Department. Following a short battle with cancer, he passed away on November 9, 2023, in Maurice, Louisiana, leaving behind 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Jim Cole will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, as well as a Marine whose life was marked by discipline, courage, and loyalty. His story reflects both the sacrifices of military service and the strength of family. He carried deep respect for his fellow Marines, never forgot those who had fallen, and continued to honor their memory throughout his life.
To those who knew him, he leaves behind a legacy of service, resilience, and enduring love.