Navy Families - Timeless Traditions

By Amy Steward

Captain Charlie Cole, USN (ret), was recently honored at the Avenue of Heroes ceremony along with 14 other honorees. CAPT Cole’s 30 year career spanned WWII to Vietnam and his awards include the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars (with V). He twice lived in Coronado — early in his career as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) and after the bridge was built. Following retirement from the Navy, he went on to an equally distinguished second career as a professor at the University of Oregon, volunteer and leader in numerous civic organizations, and distinguished humanitarian. Charlie Cole is my “second dad.”

My life as a Navy junior brought me to Coronado toward the end of the Vietnam War and I attended Crown, Glorietta, and Coronado Junior High Schools. My fondest memories of riding my bike, sailing my Sabot, swimming at the municipal pool, and playing at the beach are rooted in Coronado. I graduated high school in Arlington, VA, having attended 13 different schools.

My family first became acquainted with the Coles while both families were stationed in Japan. Our families were subsequently reunited in Coronado where our ties with Charlie and his wife, Colleen (CAPT and Mrs. Cole to me) — personal and professional — grew progressively deeper. While all three of their children were older, I distinctly remember their daughters at our home enjoying a traditional Coronado

Fourth of July barbeque. Inter-generational, extended Navy family events were the norm.

Fast forward: as my high school graduation approached, my parents encouraged me to attend the University of Oregon where Captain Cole was teaching. Simultaneous with my graduation, they transferred overseas to the Philippines. In those days — before cellphones and the internet, when overseas phone calls were prohibitively expensive — I was a typical college student on a shoestring budget. The Coles were my salvation — offering a home away from home and a helping hand or shoulder to cry on whenever needed.

While visiting my parents in the Philippines over Christmas break, a blind date led me to meet my future husband. My dad had warned me to “stay away from the Marines,” but he didn’t say anything about the SEALs. When extenuating circumstances precluded my father giving me away at our wedding two years later in Oregon, my “second dad” once again came to the rescue. He graciously accepted my invitation and I held his arm tightly as he walked me down the aisle, grateful beyond measure for his presence in my life.

Now, over forty years later, our ties have only grown stronger with time. At 94, Charlie Cole is as sharp as ever. It was my honor and privilege to reciprocate his love and support by sponsoring him for Coronado’s Avenue of Heroes.

Charlie, his children, and their spouses stayed with us over the Ceremony weekend and Navy connections constantly surfaced. My daughter, D’amy, is living in Guam; Captain Cole and family were stationed in Guam in the 1960s; his son, Greg, and family were stationed there years later; and

my husband, Dan’l spent time in Guam as a SWO and SEAL. We all marveled at the advancements in technology that allowed us to FaceTime D’amy even as Typhoon Mawar bore down on the island. During that conversation and throughout the visit we were consistently warmed by old memories and new examples of Navy families helping Navy families. D’amy survived the super typhoon and is — as this is written — helping with cleanup efforts in her community and at the University of Guam Marine Lab.

The “Navy family” is a tradition that forms cross-generational, cross-cultural, unbreakable bonds and relationships with and between service members and families met during and after service. Grandpa to my daughter, dad to me, CAPT Cole personifies every positive aspect of this tradition. The tradition reinforces that we are all links in a chain as well as links within links. The Navy family is defined by kindness and assistance shown, paid forward, and repaid at every opportunity… even decades later. It is a tradition celebrated with a pride perhaps best expressed in lyrics of the U.S. Naval Academy hymn, Navy Blue & Gold: “[When]… by the Service called away, We’re scattered far and wide; But still when two or three shall meet, And old tales be retold, From low to highest in the Fleet, We’ll pledge the Blue and Gold.”

Thank you, Coronado, for your support of the Navy and recognition of honorable service by all members of the armed forces.