Robert G . Cole Lieutenant Colonel Robert George Cole ( March 19 , 1915 – September 18 , 1944 ) was an American soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the days following the D - Day Normandy invasion of World War II . Early U . S . Army career . Robert G . Cole was born at Fort Sam Houston , in San Antonio , Texas , to Colonel Clarence F . Cole , an Army doctor , and Clara H . Cole on April 17 , 1915 . He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio in 1933 and joined the United States Army on July 1 , 1934 . On June 26 , 1935 , he was honorably discharged to accept an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point . Cole graduated with the class of 1939 and returned home to marry Allie Mae Wilson . He was appointed a second lieutenant to the 15th Infantry at Fort Lewis , Washington in 1939 , and remained there until his transfer to the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion at Fort Benning , Georgia , in 1941 . In March 1941 , he earned his jump wings . Rapidly advancing through the ranks at Fort Benning as the parachute infantry battalions were expanded to regiments , he was a lieutenant colonel commanding the 3rd Battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment on June 6 , 1944 , the date of his unit ' s first combat jump . D - Day operations . Lt Col . Cole parachuted into Normandy with his unit as part of the American airborne landings in Normandy . By the evening of June 6 , he had gathered 75 men . They captured Exit 3 at Saint - Martin - de - Varreville behind Utah Beach and were at the dune line to welcome men from the U . S . 4th Infantry Division coming ashore . After being in division reserve , Cole ' s battalion had guarded the right flank of the 101st Airborne Division attempts to take the approaches to Carentan . On the afternoon of June 10 , Cole led 400 men of his battalion single file down a long , exposed causeway ( Purple Heart Lane ) , with marshes at either side . A hedgerow behind a large farmhouse on the right was occupied by well dug - in German troops . At the far end of the causeway was the last of four bridges over the Douve River flood plain . Beyond the last bridge was Carentan , which the 101st had been ordered to seize to effect a linkup with the 29th Infantry Division coming off Omaha Beach . During the advance Cole ' s battalion was subjected to continuous fire from artillery , machine guns and mortars . Cole ' s battalion , advancing slowly by crawling or crouching , took numerous casualties . The survivors huddled against the bank on the far side of the causeway . An obstacle known as a Belgian gate blocked nearly the entire roadway over the last bridge , allowing the passage of only one man at a time . Attempts to force this bottleneck were futile , and the battalion took up defensive positions for the night . During the night , Cole ' s men were exposed to shelling by German mortars and by a strafing and bombing attack by two aircraft , causing further casualties and knocking Company I out of the fight . However the fire from the farm slackened and the remaining 265 men infiltrated through the obstacle and took up positions for an assault . With the Germans still resisting any attempt to move beyond the bridges , and after artillery failed to suppress their fire , Cole called for smoke on the dug - in Germans and ordered a bayonet charge , a rarity in World War II . He charged toward the hedgerow , leading only a small portion of his unit at first . The remainder of the battalion , seeing what was happening followed as Cole led the paratroopers into the hedgerows , engaging at close range and with bayonets in hand - to - hand combat . The German survivors retreated , taking more casualties as they ran away . The assault , which came to be known as " Cole ' s Charge , " proved costly ; 130 of Cole ' s 265 men became casualties . With his battalion exhausted , Cole called for the 1st Battalion to pass through his lines and continue the attack . However , they were also severely depleted by mortar fire crossing bridge # 4 , such that they took up positions with 3rd Battalion rather than proceeding . There , on the edge of Carentan , they were subjected to strong counterattacks by the German 6th Parachute Regiment during the morning and afternoon . At the height of the attack , at approximately 1900 , Cole ' s artillery observer managed to break through radio jamming and called down a concentration by the entire Corps artillery that broke up the attacks for good . At 0200 on June 12 the 506th PIR passed through their line and captured Hill 30 to the south of Carentan . From there , led by Company E , the 2nd battalion of the 506th PIR ( " Band of Brothers " ) attacked north into Carentan at daylight as part of a 3 - battalion assault . The German 6th Parachute Regiment , virtually out of ammunition , had abandoned the town during the night , leaving only a small rear guard . By 0730 of June 12 Carentan was captured . Death & Medal of Honor . LTC Cole was recommended for a Medal of Honor for his actions that day , but did not live to receive it . On September 18 , 1944 , during Operation Market Garden , Colonel Cole , commanding the 3rd Battalion of the 502d PIR in Best , Netherlands , got on the radio . A pilot asked him to put some orange identification panels in front of his position . Cole decided to do it himself . For a moment , Cole raised his head , shielding his eyes to see the plane . Suddenly a shot was fired by a German sniper in a farmhouse only 300 yards away , killing Cole instantly . Two weeks later , he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bayonet charge near Carentan on June 11 . As his widow and two - year - old son looked on , Cole ' s mother accepted his posthumous award on the parade ground , where Cole had played as a child , at Fort Sam Houston . LTC Cole is buried at Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial , in Margraten , the Netherlands . Medal of Honor citation . For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life , above and beyond the call of duty on 11 June 1944 , in France . Lt . Col . Cole was personally leading his battalion in forcing the last 4 bridges on the road to Carentan when his entire unit was suddenly pinned to the ground by intense and withering enemy rifle , machinegun , mortar , and artillery fire placed upon them from well - prepared and heavily fortified positions within 150 yards of the foremost elements . After the devastating and unceasing enemy fire had for over 1 hour prevented any move and inflicted numerous casualties , Lt . Col . Cole , observing this almost hopeless situation , courageously issued orders to assault the enemy positions with fixed bayonets . With utter disregard for his own safety and completely ignoring the enemy fire , he rose to his feet in front of his battalion and with drawn pistol shouted to his men to follow him in the assault . Catching up a fallen man ' s rifle and bayonet , he charged on and led the remnants of his battalion across the bullet - swept open ground and into the enemy position . His heroic and valiant action in so inspiring his men resulted in the complete establishment of our bridgehead across the Douve River . The cool fearlessness , personal bravery , and outstanding leadership displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Cole reflect great credit upon himself and are worthy of the highest praise in the military service . Legacy . Robert G . Cole High School at Fort Sam Houston is named after Robert G . Cole as well as a housing area , Cole Park , in Fort Campbell , Kentucky . LTC Cole is one of the true - to - life characters in the 2005 Gearbox Software games " " , " " and the 2008 game " " . On September 18 , 2009 , a monument was unveiled in Best in The Netherlands , near the place of his death . At the ceremony Cole ' s son was present as well as members and veterans of the 101st Airborne Division .