Press release
BUFFALO, NEW YORK: On Wednesday, September 1st, from 1-3pm, VA Western New York Healthcare System recognized Sydney Cole, Spruce Lodge Community Living Center’s oldest resident, with a special party to celebrate his 107th birthday. The birthday bash for Mr. Cole was held with family and staff at the outdoor patio entrance of Building 4, Batavia VA Medical Center site, 222 Richmond Avenue, Batavia, New York.
As a captain and reconnaissance pilot for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, Sydney Cole was shot down over the skies of Bastogne, Belgium, during the epic “Battle of the Bulge” and was later taken as a prisoner of war by the Nazis. Sydney Cole is one of the oldest WWII Veterans still living and is believed to be the oldest Veteran cared for by Veteran Affairs.
Born in Buffalo in 1914 and later becoming a champion swimmer in high school, Mr. Cole’s life and military service has been highlighted over the last few years during many ceremonies held in his honor. On several interviews he has offered painful stories and reflections as a former POW. When shot down on January 2, 1945, Sydney was in a bitter battle for his survival from the enemy as well as the horrible weather. Badly injured from shrapnel and ground arms fire he sustained in the cockpit while descending to the ground, only his parachute was available to wrap himself up against the bitter winter’s sub-zero cold, the worst winter in
decades. After lying unconscious for what he thought were a few days until the Nazis captured him, his tattered body was thrown on top of a tank for transport eastward. Before losing consciousness, however, Captain Cole was wise enough to remove and throw his dog tags into the woods that identified him as “H” for Hebrew. Had the enemy determined he was Jewish, he would have been shot on the spot or sent to a concentration camp.
Despite suffering horrible beatings and treatment as a POW, shrinking from 150 to 80 pounds, Captain Cole survived the last five months of the war in Europe by sheer will. His true grit as the ranking leader along with a positive attitude in the camp saved the lives of many POWs who had almost given up. He was eventually repatriated after The Russian Army took over his POW camp in the spring of 1945.
After the war, Sydney married and went quickly back to work, owning and developing several successful businesses to include a car dealership, a liquor store and athletic club in downtown Buffalo. In 2016, his old high school, now called City Honors, awarded him his high school diploma in a special ceremony. More recently, Sydney was inducted into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame.
Sydney still suffers from the frostbite of that terrible Western Front winter of January 1945, wearing thin cotton gloves at times to keep his hands comfortable. Despite his cold hands, Sydney has a warm smile and cheerful heart for the multitude of special friends and his son Richard who see him regularly at VA’s Spruce Lodge Community Living Center. There, precious, first-hand accounts stories of the greatest generation are willingly told. Happy birthday Sydney and many more.