Edward Ball Cole was born 23 September 1879 at Boston, Massachusetts. One of the country's leading experts on machine guns, he received a direct commission in the Marine Corps in World War I.
   Major Cole received a Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during the Battle of Belleau Wood (10 June 1918) in which he was mortally wounded. He died 18 June 1918 and is buried at Mouroux Cemetery, France.