Soldier Honored: Brent Scott Cole

Chief Warrant Officer Brent Scott Cole, 38, of Reedsville, West Virginia, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  CW4 Cole was killed in a helicopter crash during his third combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on Friday, May 22, 2009.

CW4 Cole joined the Army in 1987 as a military policeman and was selected in 1998 to the Army’s Warrant Officer Flight Program. He excelled as an Army aviator and began flying the AH-64 Longbow Apache helicopter. He had the responsibility for teaching new aviators the much-needed ability and skills to operate the greatest attack helicopter in the world. CW 4 Cole's military decoration include a the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal for Valor, two Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with a Bronze Star, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan campaign Medal with on Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Medal, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal. He has also been awarded the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Army Aviator Badge and the Parachutist's Badge.

While CW4 Cole led by example and was revered by his peers and leaders alike, his son remembers him for his humor and love for spending time together.  His son said “Watching my dad work hard to take care of our family has made an impact on me.  He always put us first even when he was not around.  He said that I shouldn't do anything that I was not prepared to put my best foot forward. I have lived by that motto.”

CW4 Cole’s son is a Folds of Honor Scholarship recipient.