Command Sergeant Major Cole was among the first 20 Command Sergeants Major made in the United States Army.  He was the last survivor of this group.   He served in World War II, enlisting at the age of 16.  He made the  D-Day landing at Omaha Beach and later served in the Battle for the Bulge.  As a lead tank commander he assisted in the freeing of two concentration camps including Buchenwald.  CSM Case also served in Korea, serving from 1950 to 1953.