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John Edward Cole 1909-March 17 1943

John Edward Cole 1909-March 17 1943

Posted: 24 Jul 2014 1:37PM GMT
Classification: Query
We have just learned the name of the ship the SS James Oglethorpe as the ship that was torpedoed twice with John Edward Cole on board. He was a qualified Engineer, Water tender, Fireman, and Oiler, so we assume he stayed with the ship as it struggled to reach St. John's, Nova Scotia, when the ship was torpedoed the second time. We knew him as Edward Cole, raised in DeRidder/Jennings Louisiana. He called his home residence Johnson City, Washington Co., TN. He previously was enlistd in the US Navy and served as a Fireman aboard the USS Roper, a Wickes-class Destroyer from Nov 1 1929 to 31 Oct 1930. He applied to the US Merchant Marine and received his Seaman Certif. Credentials on 12 Sept 1938 at New Oreleans, LA. He was the son of Rev. Lewis Madison Cole and Nancy Louise Gandy Cole. He was a twin to Julia Evelyn Cole Swayze. He was married to Florence R. Gregory. Family kept in touch with her years later, but that communication and info re: her is not known in this generation. He was the uncle of my husband, Ben Swayze -- who remembers Edward buying him a tricycle for his 3rd birthday, just prior to the last time Edward "shipped out." If anyone knows of information re: Edward's wife, Florence R. Gregory Cole, I would appreciate being contacted. We do not know even where she was born or whether she married later. We have learned that a Memorial to the SS James Oglethorpe is now in Savannah GA - with a commemoration ceremony having occurred last year 2013. We owe Allen D. Jackson, USAF ret, a historian and researcher, gratitude for contacting us and giving us pertinent info and details re: John Edward Cole and the ship he went down with. Ann Swayze

Re: John Edward Cole 1909-March 17 1943

Posted: 16 Jul 2015 1:30PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Cole
Well Florence R Gregory was born 1911 according to military records, I'll get to that in a moment. In 1920 she live with her family in Franklin County Arkansas, By 1930 her family had moved to Chattanooga Tn and was attending Central High School, In 1931 and 1932 her senior year family still in Chattanooga Tn and she graduated from Central High School in 1932, IN 1939 she is listed as living wih John Edward Cole in Nashville,Tn, then on March 17, 1943 when Edward died they were listed as being married four years so they either married in 1939 or right before that in 1938. In 1945 she enlisted in the WAC Womans Army Core, on her enlistment papers theis is where it sad married four years and had gone to college,her military serial number for WAC was A-414815,while she was born in Oklahoma according to that enlistment document her parents were John Gregory and mother Eva who were both born in Texas. Florence or Florry as she was called had three other sisters Amanda,Nora and Vessie,thought it could be Bessie but clearly a V on original census image. Now as far as death a family tree suggested in the latter 1940's but its not known by the treemaker. But upon looking I did find a Florence Cole born March 13,1911 year matches up but cant prove right now if its her that died June 17,2000 last residence Santa Barbara California, so hope this helps!

Re: John Edward Cole 1909-March 17 1943

Posted: 16 Jul 2015 1:35PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Cole
One more quick thing if you do a search of family trees and enter John Edward Cole another surprise awaits you, tried to say what it was but ancestry wouldn't allow it to send
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