The recently identified remains of a U.S. Army veteran were finally laid to rest in a special ceremony Monday.
Hood E. Cole, 19, of Atlanta, died in France in 1945. He served as a private in the U.S. Army and was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 276th Infantry, 70th Infantry Division.
According to the Defense Prisoner of War and MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), Cole's unit was attacked by German soldiers on January 14, 1944 near Behrendal, France.
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“At some point during the battle, Cole was killed, but historical records do not indicate the exact location,” the DPAA explains on its website. “Due to the fighting, the bodies could not be recovered immediately.”
Hood E. Cole, 19, of Atlanta, died in France in 1945. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
Cole's body was declared unrecoverable on May 11, 1951, but his remains were finally identified 72 years later in 2017 when his family sent a DNA sample to the DPAA. The family was informed.
Cole's great-nephew, retired U.S. Army sergeant Rusty Midkiff, said his great-uncle was found in a forest that had been largely untouched since World War II.
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“How many people were touched by this event and how many people had to work together to understand what happened in Europe nearly 80 years ago,” Midkiff said on FOX 5 Atlanta. , it would be mind-boggling.”
Cole was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
“And when the Army starts explaining and explaining how this all happens, you'll be shocked at the level of effort and dedication that goes into it,” he added. “It leaves you speechless.”
He also believes Cole influenced his own decision to enlist.
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“He was 19 years old. His wife and children did not survive him,” Midkiff said. “We're not talking about the hopes and dreams he had. He had that taken away. But he's home now.”
During the ceremony, soldiers presented an American flag to Cole's niece and Midkiff's mother. Her son applauded everyone who worked over the decades to identify Cole's body.
Cole's niece was presented with an American flag during the ceremony. (Matt Pryor Films, via FOX 5 Atlanta)
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“They never gave up…As soldiers, it's important to understand that when you deploy to fight for our country, they will take you home, regardless of the outcome.” ” he added.
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