A tribute to John Cole
By U.S. Rep. Tom Cole
R-Oklahoma
On Sunday, June 15, we will celebrate Father’s Day – a day for us to celebrate the dads who have helped shape us into who we are today.
Fathers have an irreplaceable role in our lives. While all families look different, many fathers play the role of protector and provider. They offer a different kind of love and care that complements maternal care perfectly. They teach through example, showing a son what it means to be a man and shaping a daughters view of love and respect.
Now, as we approach Father’s Day, I can’t help but reflect and be thankful for my own father, John Cole.
My late father lived a dutiful life, dedicating everything to not only our family, but also our country. He spent 20 years in the Air Force, making exponential sacrifices every single day for this nation, and then worked an additional two decades as a civilian federal employee at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
Growing up, and still today, I greatly admired my dad’s service. He was truly a hero. He joined the Army Air Corps on the eve of World War II and by the time he left the military, he was the second most senior master sergeant in the Air Force.
My father was known throughout the USAF as the one of the best to run a crew to maintenance airplanes. In fact, he won the “Dock of the Month” prize so many times that McGuire Air Force Base stopped giving the prize out as a whole. Then, when he was placed at Dover Air Force Base, he was assigned the worst dock. Yet, without surprise, he still managed to win the same award seven times at Dover – a testament to his impressive mechanic skills.
Unfortunately, during the last several years of his life, my father battled Alzheimer’s disease. My mother, brother and I watched him helplessly and with heavy hearts as he became a different person and slowly lost a lifetime of memories throughout the various stages of the disease. He fought the disease with all his strength, but he sadly lost the battle.
Yet, the lessons my dad taught me still live on in my heart. I got my strong work ethic from him and am thankful every day that I had a father worth missing so much.
So, as we all celebrate our fathers on this upcoming Father’s Day, let us remember to thank them for the examples they have set, the love they have shown, and the legacies they have left behind. Happy Father’s Day everyone!