Lt. Paul Edward COTE

I’m looking for information about my grandfather 1^st Lt. Paul Edward Cote. He was a paratrooper from Lewiston, Maine, I believe (but not sure) a member of the 503d PRCT during the operation at Corregidor, and I believe jumped during the 16 Feb 45 operations. I am looking for information about him and his company. The only thing I’ve been able to find is a photograph of him taken with other service men from Maine. The photo was taken on their return to Mindoro from Corregidor. If you have any information about my grandfather I would really appreciate it if you could send it to me or steer me in the direction where I can find it. I’m currently trying to obtain a copy of his service record, but I was hoping to actually find people that served along side of him during his time overseas.

 Unfortunately, my grandfather past away in 1998, but was a man who always enjoyed and valued his life with his family and friends. He never talked about his experiences in the military or complained about anything. He was a hockey player and was inducted into the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame as a player on the Bates Manufacturing team, which won the National Amateur Hockey Association’s championship in 1950. He was married for 55 years and had six children, 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He worked as a salesman at a local plate-glass distributor for many years and sang in his church choir and was a member of the Musical Literary Club. My grandfather was a man of honor, a man who loved his country and served it proudly. I hope that you had the pleasure of knowing him, and I hope that you can help me find more information about him.

Paul Whitman

 Steve, I've enclosed a website link which shows that your grandfather was injured on the Corregidor jump.

Most individual service records were destroyed in the St. Louis fire, so your best bet is to piece together what he may have been involved in by any hints as to whether he’d been in Australia, New Guinea, Noemfoor, Corregidor or Negros. Did he go to Japan?  If you cannot obtain an individual record,  then my advice is that if you pursue the history of the 503d,  rather than his individual history, you will begin to understand much more about your grandfather’s war than he would ever reveal of himself.

Thank you for replying so quickly. I’m grateful for the information you sent to me about my grandfather. I will use your advice. I wasn’t aware of the St. Louis fire or that he was injured during a jump.

William T. Calhoun

Steve, I'd not sure enough to answer you questions,  perhaps John Lindgren and Tony Sierra (a long time D Company) would be better answering your questions; Their email addresses are enclosed.

Pia

Thanks for the names and email addresses. I have sent messages to Mr. Lindgren and Mr. Sierra. Your help is greatly appreciated.

I also want to thank you for your service and everything you did for this great country of ours. I believe that the courage, honor and service you and your Unit(s) demonstrated during WWII should never be forgotten. I will always think about the men of 503d PRCT who gave their lives to secure that island and what I have learned so far about what happened at Corregidor from your Web site. Whether or not I ever learn everything I hope to about my grandfather, please know that I will always think about and pray for the men who served with the 503d PRCT.

 I noticed that you have put together the roster for Corregidor mission of 16 Feb 45 and my grandfather's name was not on it. I've also been able to uncover that my grandfather, Lt. Paul Cote, was replaced by TSGT Schriefels due to an injury he sustained during a previous jump. Would you happen to know what kind of injury he sustained and if he was sent to the rear after that injury? Also, do you have any rosters of prior missions he was on (e.g., Australia, New Guinea, Noemfoor or Negros)

Steven,

The roster I put together consisted of the Corregidor jumpers of F Company only. John Lindgren put together a roster of the D Company. Your grandfather is listed in the D Company in Templeman's "Return to Corregidor." That rosters lists:

•  1st Lt. Joseph A. Turinsky. (Commanding). He was killed the third night.

• 1st Lt. Henrty L. Buchanan, Company Executive Officer. He was wounded and evacuated to the States, I believe.

• 1st Lt. James P. Gifford, platoon leader

• 1st Lt. Charles M. Preston, platoon leader

• 1st Lt. John L. Lindgren, Jr., platoon leader

• 2nd Lt. Paul E. Cote

• 2nd Lt. John E. Mara T

Thank you for your kind remarks. As our great 2nd Battalion surgeon told me a few years before he died, those days were the most memorable days of my life. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.

Steven,

Paul E. Cote [2d Lt 02036634] and I were both members of Company D, 2nd Bn, 503d Parachute Infantry.

Paul's regiment left Fort Bragg NC and arrived in Australia in December 1942.  He was in the 3d Bn when he jumped at Nadzab in 1943. He was not commissioned in the field but rather was selected to attend Officer Candidates School [OCS] in Australia. He was commissioned sometime during the summer of 1944.  I would think he distinguished himself on the battlefield and was sent off to OCS. From OCS he went to Dobodura, New Guinea then boarded the ship, Charles P Steinmetz and arrived at Noemfoor August 14,1944. 

The company arrived at Noemfoor in July and by the middle of August the fighting for the island was over and we moved from the field into tents. The company had two officers killed and all of  the officers in our tent were there to replace them. We were all new to the company except for Jim Gifford. I was with E Company during the fighting. The officers quartered [all 2d lieutenants] were

James P. Gifford [1st platoon],
Charles Preston [2d platoon]
Paul Cote [3d platoon],
John Lindgren [4th platoon].

All except me were graduates from OCS in Australia, my alma mater was Fort Bernning GA.

Preston was never heard from after the war and another officer, Sidney Brock was with us for a month or so and later was killed in action. Gifford died of disease in the Philippines.

We moved on to Leyte and from there the company made an unopposed beach landing on the island of Mindoro, Philippines.  From there we jumped on Corregidor Island a coastal defense fortress in Manila Bay.

Paul broke his ankle on landing and was brought to the regimental dispensary were he remained until he was evacuated and eventually was returned to the USA.

I got in touch with him long after war's end. I got his address from the internet. I remembered he was from Lewiston and when I looked at the screen I think there were at least a good half dozen, or possibly more, Paul Cote's.  I wrote to all of them and as luck would have it, got the right one Paul had a very wry sense of humor and he told me he was in no way personally responsible for all those Cote's. I usually hear from them during the holidays but last year I didn't hear from your grandmother. I drive to Nova Scotia every now and then and always meant to visit Lewiston but never did. I remember your grandmother told me her house was more than 100 years old! I would loved to have seen it. If you send me your address I will send you some D Company documents that may be of interest.

Happy Holidays.
ttfn    
John Lindgren