I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3143 
To posthumously promote Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Cole, United States 
Air Force (retired), a colonel on the retired list. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 5, 2019 
Mr. ROY (for himself, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. FLORES, Mr. 
OLSON, and Mr. WEBER of Texas) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To posthumously promote Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. 
Cole, United States Air Force (retired), a colonel on 
the retired list. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows: 
(1) Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Cole, United 
States Air Force (retired), was born on September 
7, 1915, in Dayton, Ohio. 
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(2) On November 22, 1940, Lieutenant Colonel 
Cole enlisted as an aviation cadet in Lubbock, 
Texas. 
(3) In July 1941, Lieutenant Colonel Cole was 
commissioned as a second lieutenant and rated as a 
pilot. 
(4) Lieutenant Colonel Cole was one of the air-
men who took part in the Doolittle Raid on Japan 
in April 1942, serving as co-pilot to then Lieutenant 
Colonel James (Jimmy) Doolittle. 
(5) After the Doolittle Raid, Lieutenant Colonel 
Cole remained in China until June 1943. 
(6) Lieutenant Colonel Cole served again in the 
China–Burma–India Theater from October 1943 to 
June 1944. 
(7) Lieutenant Colonel Cole later served as Op-
erations Advisor to the Venezuelan Air Force from 
1959 to 1962. 
(8) Lieutenant Colonel Cole retired from the 
Air Force in 1966. 
(9) On September 19, 2016, the B–21 bomber 
developed by Northrop Grumman was formally 
named ‘‘Raider’’ in honor of the Doolittle Raiders. 
(10) Lieutenant Colonel Cole died on April 9, 
2019, at 103 years of age. 
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(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is as follows: 
(1) Recognizes the accomplishments, sacrifices, 
and legacy of Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Cole, 
United States Air Force (retired). 
(2) Encourages citizens of the United States to 
remember the legacy of Lieutenant Colonel Cole and 
the legacy of all the Doolittle Raiders. 
SEC. 2. POSTHUMOUS ADVANCEMENT OF LIEUTENANT 
COLONEL RICHARD E. COLE, UNITED STATES 
AIR FORCE, ON THE RETIRED LIST. 
(a) ADVANCEMENT.—Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. 
Cole, United States Air Force (retired), is advanced to the 
rank of colonel on the retired list of the Air Force. 
(b) ADDITIONAL BENEFITS NOT TO ACCRUE.—The 
advancement of Richard E. Cole on the retired list of the 
Air Force under subsection (a) shall not affect the retired 
pay or other benefits from the United States to which 
Richard E. Cole would have been entitled based upon his 
military service or affect any benefits to which any other 
person may become entitled based on his military service. 
Æ 
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