West Virginia Soldier Dies in Afghanistan - WOWK-TV

WASHINGTON -- There is a new name to be added to the list of West Virginians who have died serving their country.

Chief Warrant Officer Four Brent S. Cole, 38, of Reedsville in Preston County, was killed when his AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopter went down near the town of Tarin Kowt, in the Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan on Friday, according to the 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office.

Cole served as an AH-64D Instructor Pilot and Safety Officer for Company C, 1st Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), (Task Force Wolfpack), 82nd Abn. Div.

Cole's colleagues and family remember him warmly.

“He was a loving, dedicated husband and father who adored his family to the highest degree. As a military officer, he was a consummate professional who always led by example and was revered by his peers and leaders alike. His loss is devastating to the family, Army Aviation and to our country. His family and I are proud to have had him in our lives and he will forever remain deep in our hearts," Cole's wife Vanessa said in a statement released to the media.

"Chief Warrant Officer Four Brent Cole was a warrior; a combat veteran on his third Global War on Terrorism deployment. His loss is a tragedy that words cannot adequately describe. Brent was an exceptional Army Aviation professional who died doing what he loved, flying Apache helicopters while answering his nation's call to duty. Freedom is not free, and today we owe this family a huge debt of gratitude for the sacrifice of Brent Cole in service to his nation; we shall never forget him or his family,” said Col. Paul W. Bricker, commander, 82nd CAB (Task Force Pegasus). “The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade will continue our mission in southern Afghanistan with renewed determination in honor of Brent's sacrifice."

Cole was born August 12, 1970 in Morgantown, and graduated from West Preston High School in 1988, according to Cole's wife's statement.

He then graduated from the Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama in 1998, and attended the AH-64 Apache Qualification Course.

Cole was deployed three times while serving the U. S. Army, the unit's release goes on to say, and, according to the 82nd Airborne's release, received many awards and decorations.

Those commendations included: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal with Valor, the Air Medal 2nd device, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Presidential Unit Citation Award, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon 2nd device, the NATO Medal, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist’s Badge, the Driver’s Badge and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.

A memorial service was held for Cole in Afghanistan on Sunday, the release said.

Cole's family is planning to hold funeral services both in Fayetteville, N. C. and in Masontown, W. V., according to their press statement.

”Honor and Remember” - “Project Compassion” We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to the hero’s Mother, Father and/or spouse. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,800 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another! This is a gift! We have some wonderful sponsors who help with the costs, and only want you know that we care. Contact us directly at Projectcompassion@manti.com or go to www.heropaintings.com . If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and God Bless You. Sincerely and Respectfully, Kenna

On August 23, 2009 in Tampa Florida there was a walk/run to honor our fallen warriors. I was given the honor of walking with a banner that had Chief Warrant Officer Brent S. Cole's name and photograph. I just wanted his family to know that he is not forgotten and even though we did not know him personally, we appreciate his service and are grateful.

I NEVER KNEW BRENT PERSONNLY BEING I AM 59 YEARS OLD, WE BOTH ARE FROM THE SAME HOME TOWN IN W.VA. I GRADUATED BACK IN 1970 FROM VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE IT WAS CHANGE TO WEST PRESTON HIGH, WE BOTH WERE ARMY MILITARY POLICEMAN, I SERVED OVER 33 YEARS, IN THREE MILITARY SERVICE'S AND THREE WAR'S, HE IS LAID TO REST AT OUR HOME TOWN CEMEMTARY AND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN ALONG WITH REST OF OUR VETERANS THAT ARE THERE, HIS SACRIFICE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND WILL BE HONOR EACH YEAR BACK HOME, I AM SO PROUD OF OUR VETERANS AND THERE DUTY TO OUR COUNTRY, I FEEL SO HONOR THAT I HAVE CONTACT WITH HIS PARENTS AND THEY KNEW MY PARENTS, THEY AE GOOD PEOPLE AND PROUD PARENT'S, MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS GO WITH THE BRENTS WIFE AND SON AND PARENTS, MY OUR GOOD LORD WATCH OVER THEM ALL.

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY JOHN C JACK TURNER ONE OLD RET VET

I graduated with Brent Cole, and am very proud that he served his country. May God bless and protect all those serving the United States of America! May God bless Brent's family abundantly.

Our thought and prayers are with the family of CW4 Cole, as neighbors we watched him build a tree house for his son, he truly loved his family. He is the epitome of a hero, both to this country and his family. Not a day has gone by that we do not walk out our back door, see the treehouse and thank GOD above for CW4 Cole.

I am also a proud parent of 2 children in the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, NC. My daughter is a Chief Warrant officer Three and my son is a Specialist. Both have done several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have sacrificed so much for our freedom. To the Cole family- I will keep you in my prayers.

Our son & daughter went to school with Brent and Vanessa. They are wonderful, caring people. A piece of our hearts are with them now.

I went to high school with Brent and also served in the military during desert storm. He was a wonderfuld friend and a great person. I will continue to pray that all our friends and soldiers come home safe Brent will be missed.

I am myself a parent of 2 solider children. I feel that every solider in the arm forces should be reconginzed today for this is their day. My heart goes out to the family of this fine soldier.

May god Bless all of them.

As a proud mother of a marine that has served in afghanistan and is now serving in Iraq I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family of this fallen soldier and to remind americans that we need to remember our fallen soldiers not just today, but always and to also remember that their are still more soldiers servinlg and giving their lives for our country everyday.

I feel sorry for the loss of any of our solders but when it hits close to home it wakes you up to how real a sacrifice our young men and woman make every day for us. As a vet. and a former member of the 82nd airborne I feel great sorrow for this man's family in this time of loss. and a great deal of pride for him to lay down the altimate sacrifice for his country GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY

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