Edward Fowler Cole

Edward Fowler Cole, M.D.

Colonel US Army Retired, Master of Public Health, Senior Flight Surgeon. He was born as an Army brat at Vanderbilt University Medical School Hospital 24 March 1930 while his Father was professor of the Vanderbilt Medical ROTC. Growing up he lived in Fort Barrancas, Florida, Carlise Pennsylvania, Panama Canal Zone, San Francisco, Dallas, Savannah Beach, New Orleans, and Santa Fe, attending 12 different schools before graduating from high school in Orlando. After one year as an undergraduate at Vanderbilt he entered service for the first time in a pilot program for Universal Military Training under the 1948 draft act. Released after one year, he entered the University of Florida, receiving a BS degree and an appointment as a second lieutenant in the field artillery. Informed that Congress had changed the draft act and his prior service did not exempt him, he entered service for the second time. Released after 21 months, he was accepted for medical school at Vanderbilt, graduating in 1960 with an MD and commission as first lieutenant Medical Corps. Interned at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, then entered the aviation medicine program, training at Brooks Air Force Base and Ft Rucker. After serving at Ft Jay, Governor’s Island, New York City (with a stint at the University of Southern California) he went to Viet Nam. On his return he entered into the residency in Aerospace Medicine, earning a Masters of Public Health at Harvard, taking a didactic year at Brooks Air Force Base, and a clinical year at Ft Rucker. He has served at Ft Wolters, Texas, Bad Kreuznach, Germany, attended Command and General Staff College, Ft Leavenworth, Kansas, was on Bright Star 83 in Egypt, and commanded the Army Aviation Medical Activity, Ft Rucker and Medical Department Activity, Ft Sheridan, Illinois. He completed his military service of 39 years in St Louis as the medical waiver authority for the Army Reserves, and has received the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, five Air Medals, Combat Medical Badge, and Order of Military Medical Merit among other honors, awards, and decorations. He enjoyed a quiet retirement in Masaryktown, Florida. Ned and Jane, his wife of 71 years, also enjoyed participating in dinner theater productions, playing with computers, genealogy research, travels to Viet Nam reunions with the 114th, and visits to their children and grandchildren. They have six children: Dorothea Cole (Kenji Nakagawa), Katherine Appleton (Larry), Edward, Jr (Candy), Elizabeth Tate (Steve), Lester, and Brenda Morgan (Eric). They have 22 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren with one more on the way along with one great-great grandchild on the way. His family is scattered throughout the US.

Streaming link listed below:

https://www.youtube.com/live/N-khXsGMymo?reload=9

A visitation for Edward will be held Tuesday, March 11, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Turner Funeral Homes, Crematory and Cemetery, 14360 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, FL 34609, followed by a funeral service from 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM.