John C. Cole, a United States Marine Corps veteran, was born on May 23, 1927, in Moran, Texas, and passed away peacefully on March 9, 2025, in Roy, Utah, at the age of 97.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1944, following in the footsteps of his brother and uncle, and served as a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment during World War II and the Korean War.He was wounded in battle during the Korean War, specifically during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, where he fought in extreme cold, enduring temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and sustained three wounds.His service included participation in the infamous “Frozen Chosin” campaign, where he relied on his Ka-Bar knife, grenades, and marksmanship to protect his fellow Marines.He left the Marine Corps in January 1952 and later worked as a quality assurance specialist at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.After retiring, he resided in Roy, Utah, where he lived with his wife, Donna Jean Bingham, whom he married in June 1946, and raised four sons.He was survived by seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.
In 2013, he was honored alongside Navy veteran John Bailey during a dinner celebrating the 72nd anniversary of the 1st Marine Division.His life and service were commemorated in various media, including a 2015 Deseret News article highlighting his survival of the Chosin Reservoir battle and a 2025 TikTok video honoring him as a 95-year-old Marine Corps hero.
