{"id":21176,"date":"2020-12-04T16:58:38","date_gmt":"2020-12-04T21:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=21176"},"modified":"2020-12-04T16:58:38","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T21:58:38","slug":"wny-106-year-old-former-u-s-army-air-corps-captain-re-issued-a-special-membership-award-today-at-the-batavia-va","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/12\/04\/wny-106-year-old-former-u-s-army-air-corps-captain-re-issued-a-special-membership-award-today-at-the-batavia-va\/","title":{"rendered":"WNY\/106 year-old former U.S Army Air Corps Captain, re-issued a special membership award today at the Batavia VA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Submitted photos and information from VA WNY Healthcare System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn January 2, 1945 at 11:00a.m., 2nd Lieutenant Sydney Cole was forced to jump out of his disabled Piper Cub airplane over the skies of Belgium and into German-held territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He deployed his Irvin backpack-style parachute at an altitude of 1000 ft. and survived the emergency jump. He was then automatically eligible to join the Caterpillar Club \u2013 a club whose members can only join, quite literally, by accident. All one needs to do is successfully bail out of a damaged airplane and survive by using a parachute.\u00a0 It has been described as the club that no one wants to join, but it\u2019s\u00a0distinguished members include\u00a0aviation pioneers Charles Lindbergh, astronaut John Glenn and former president, George H.W. Bush.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Upon verification of the requirements, members receive a \u201ccaterpillar pin\u201d, symbolizing the source of the silk used to make the first parachute canopies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Captain Sydney Cole, we are pleased to be able to re-issue the prestigious caterpillar pin to you, as well as the original application for membership that you signed in December of 1945. God Bless America and thank you for the sacrifices you made on behalf of all Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Submitted photos and information from VA WNY Healthcare System) \u201cOn January 2, 1945 at 11:00a.m., 2nd Lieutenant Sydney Cole was forced to jump out of his disabled Piper Cub airplane over the skies of Belgium and into German-held territory. He deployed his Irvin backpack-style parachute at an altitude of 1000 \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21177,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[919],"tags":[2368,2387],"class_list":["post-21176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wny","tag-batavia-va","tag-captain-sydney-cole"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-5vy","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19229,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/09\/02\/batavia-veteran-celebrates-his-106th-birthday-at-the-va\/","url_meta":{"origin":21176,"position":0},"title":"BATAVIA\/Veteran celebrates his 106th birthday at the VA","author":"aka","date":"September 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Dr. Maller, Geriatrics Chief, Spruce Lodge\u2019s Mary C. Miller, SW, Richard Cole, son, Sydney and Paulette Welker\/Provided photo\/VA WNY Healthcare System\u00a0 Provided photo\/VA WNY Healthcare System (Information provided by VA WNY Healthcare System) World War II Veteran Sydney Cole celebrated his 106th birthday at the Spruce Lodge Community Living Center\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/thumbnail_0901201404a_HDR.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/thumbnail_0901201404a_HDR.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/thumbnail_0901201404a_HDR.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/thumbnail_0901201404a_HDR.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/thumbnail_0901201404a_HDR.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27763,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2021\/09\/01\/batavia-va-wny-healthcare-system-celebrates-resident-sydney-coles-107th-birthday\/","url_meta":{"origin":21176,"position":1},"title":"BATAVIA\/VA WNY Healthcare System Celebrates Resident Sydney Cole\u2019s 107th Birthday","author":"aka","date":"September 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/uc3J69q1iGg Video of Captain Sydney Cole's 107th Birthday Celebration 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\u2019s oldest resident, with a special party to celebrate his 107th birthday. The birthday bash for Mr.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/still-sydney.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/still-sydney.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/still-sydney.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":75701,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/30\/batavia-genesee-county-charity-riders-help-raise-funds-for-an-enclosure-at-the-patio-area-of-the-va-wny-healthcare-center\/","url_meta":{"origin":21176,"position":2},"title":"BATAVIA\/Genesee County Charity Riders help raise funds for an enclosure at the patio area of the VA WNY Healthcare Center","author":"aka","date":"May 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"40 riders participated in the in the Veteran's Post to Post Run by the Genesee County Charity Riders on Saturday afternoon. Funds raised from the run will help with building an enclosure at the patio area of the VA WNY Healthcare Center so the area can be used year-round. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "WNY"","block_context":{"text":"WNY","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/wny\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260530_161608-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260530_161608-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260530_161608-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260530_161608-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260530_161608-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56835,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/09\/11\/batavia-a-moment-of-reflection-on-september-11th-at-va-wny\/","url_meta":{"origin":21176,"position":3},"title":"BATAVIA\/A moment of reflection on September 11th at VA WNY","author":"aka","date":"September 11, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/NnNfAiD41To Video of 911 Ceremony at Batavia VA September 11, 2024 Veterans of the American Legion and Genesee County, Chief Chaplain at VA WNY Healthcare Systems, Peter Ferris, with CDCE Officer Nick Lamarca and Medical Center Director Danielle Bergman. Joshua Spinler, 8th District Commander\/Sons of the American Legion from #1280\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/snapshot_002-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/snapshot_002-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/snapshot_002-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/snapshot_002-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/snapshot_002-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73451,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/20\/batavia-eleven-seniors-from-batavia-high-school-will-compete-for-the-title-of-mr-batavia-on-march-27th\/","url_meta":{"origin":21176,"position":4},"title":"BATAVIA\/Eleven seniors from Batavia High School will compete for the title of \u201cMr. Batavia\u201d on March 27th","author":"aka","date":"March 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release Eleven seniors from Batavia High School will compete for the title of\u201cMr. Batavia\u201d at the 13th annual competition, which will be held on Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m. in the Frank E. 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