1939 NAVAL RESERVE MEDAL
Commander
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United States Naval Reserve Commander Edwin Harry Cole was born February 2nd 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Baltimore City College and attended the University of Maryland Law School.
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Edwin left the University of Maryland in May of 1917 to enlisted in the Naval Reserve Force. He registered for the World War I draft on June 5th 1917 and just 9 days later enlisted as a Seaman 2nd Class on June 14th 1917. |
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Seaman 2c Cole was transferred to the motor yacht U.S.S. Gladiola on June 18th 1917, the converted yacht served as a Naval Port Guard Craft and as a customs boat.
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Seaman 2c Cole was then transferred to be the Officers Aide for Inform at Norfolk, VA on July 12th 1917, the next month on August 20th 1917 he was recorded as the Master at Arms. He was transferred to Baltimore, Maryland to again be the Officers Aide for Inform on November 27th 1917.
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Seaman 2c Cole entered the Officers Training School at Naval Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia on December 28th 1917 where he trained for the next 3-1/2 months. He graduated & was promoted to ensign on April 9th 1918. |
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April 9th 1918
During World War I Ensign Cole was transferred to the 5th Naval District Command Office where he was then transferred to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service and served aboard the Army Transport U.S.S. Martha Washington. From November 1918 through November 1919 the U.S.S. Martha Washington returned nearly 20,000 troops & passengers from foreign ports back to America. Ensign Cole also participated in her final voyage, she arrived at Brest, France on August 14th 1918 and received new orders to transport an American Relief Mission to Turkey and Russia during a period of Civil Turmoil under the Leadership of Major General James Harbord in which the force brought 324 Armenian and Polish Refugees to Constantinople before sailing home to New York on the first anniversary of the Armistice signing.
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Ensign Cole was temporarily stationed aboard the Destroyer U.S.S. Duncan Before he was discharged from active duty on December 12th 1919. He was immediately transferred to the Naval Reserve Force unit in Baltimore Maryland. |
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Ensign Cole continued to serve in the Naval Reserves in Baltimore and was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade on January 1st 1925. Mr Cole was a Commissioner in the Junior Naval Reserves and helped establish posts in Baltimore area at the request of the National Organization. Lieutenant J.G. Cole started his civilian career with Baltimore business forms Inc. in 1926.
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January 1st 1925
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Lieutenant J.G. Cole was promoted to Lieutenant on January 1st 1929. He served as a Chairman of the Naval Reserve Advisory Committee and was known in Naval circles as “Mr. Naval Reserve”.
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January 1st 1929
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Lieutenant Cole was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on May 2nd 1939. At the time he was the head of Fleet Division 3 of the Naval Reserve. He was issued this Naval Reserve Medal on May 20th 1939,
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May 2nd 1939
During the outbreak of World War II Lt. Commander Cole was ordered from his Baltimore post as Armed Guard Officer and recalled to active duty from Norfolk, Virginia where he was attached to the Amphibian Force. As the Armed Guard Officer Commander Cole supervised the assignment of gun crews to Liberty Ships built at this port. For a short period Lt. Commander Cole was the operations officer for the Naval Overseas Transportation Service at Baltimore. His unit was responsible for the arming of United States Merchant ships.
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Lt. Commander Cole received a citation for “Outstanding performance of duty“ from fleet Admiral Jonas Ingram in 1945.
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During the postwar years his interest in the Naval Reserve continued, he was promoted to Commander, and served on the advisory Advisory committee of retired Navy officers, which assisted the local reserve unit. Commander Cole officially retired from the Naval Reserve in April 1955. For 35 years Edwin continued working for the Baltimore business forms, Inc., retiring as vice president in 1961.
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United States Navy Commander Edwin Harry Cole passed away unexpectedly on January 17th 1969. He is buried at the Baltimore National Cemetery.
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