Timothy Cole, Jr.

Timothy Cole, Jr. (December 19, 1946 - October 18, 1968) was an aircraft commander and Warrant Officer 1 that served and was killed by hostile fire in the Vietnam War in Quang Tin Province I Corps., South Vietnam during a MEDEVAC mission.

During his nine months in combat Tim (call sign Dustoff 19) flew over 800 missions and evacuated over 1600 personnel earning him the Silver Star, 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Purple Heart, and multiple Air Medals. His flying abilities, as a highly decorated DUSTOFF pilot, immediately became legendary.

Civilian
Timothy Cole Jr. was born in Coweta County, Georgia on December 19, 1946. He was the first child born to Louise M. and Tim Cole Sr., operators of a large dairy farm in Newnan. Tim graduated from Newnan High School with the class of 1964 and attended Georgia Institute of Technology for two years before enlisting.

Military career
Tim enlisted in the United States Army and graduated fifth in his class with Warrant Officer Candidate Class 67-21, on December 15, 1967. After graduation from the Army Medical Department's 'Essential Medical Training for AMEDS Aviators' at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Tim was assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) where he began his Vietnam tour on February 26, 1968. He served with the 1st Flight Platoon at Long Binh, Vietnam and shortly thereafter became an Aircraft Commander in the war-torn III Corps Tactical Zone. He was subsequently transferred to the 54th Medical Detachment (HA), which was short of pilots, and only a few days later, was mortally wounded by hostile fire at the age of 21.

Honors
Timothy Cole, Jr. is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 41W Line 072. On February 21, 2009 the DUSTOFF Association inducted Timothy Cole Jr. into the DUSTOFF Hall of Fame. A portion of Happy Valley Circle, in Coweta County, will memorialize Timothy Cole, Jr.