Veteran of the Week - Dick Cote

y Paul Gable
The Herald

A native of Glens Falls, N.Y., Dick Cote joined the U.S. Army in 1950 as the Korean War was heating up.
“After basic training, I went to advanced infantry at Ft. Benning before shipping out for Japan,” said Cote.
He spent an additional four months training in Japan before being sent to Korea, where he joined a heavy weapons company attached to the 24th Division.
The 24th Division was nicknamed the “Victory Division”. Early in the Korean War it was involved in some of the heaviest fighting. After Cote arrived in 1951, it was involved in several major campaigns and was twice decorated by the government of the Republic of Korea.
“We saw some heavy fighting, but it’s not anything I talk about,” said Cote.
After completing his tour in Korea, Cote returned to the U.S. and was stationed at Ft. Devens, Mass. before being discharged in 1953.
He returned to Glens Falls and joined the fire department in that city.
“Firefighting was a family occupation,” he said. “I had an uncle who was the fire marshall and two brothers who were firefighters in the same department.”
During a 27-year career with the Glens Falls department, Cote rose to the rank of assistant chief.
“I enjoyed the job and the camaraderie on it,” he said. “We helped people who needed it the most when we were called out.”
Deciding to get away from the harsh winters of New York, Cote applied for the job of Chief of the North Myrtle Beach Fire Department in 1986.
“I had never been to Horry County before, but I was searching for a job in the South,” he said. “I saw an ad for North Myrtle Beach in one of the industry journals, I applied and was hired.”
He spent 13 years as chief of the North Myrtle Beach department, ultimately retiring in 1996.
“After 40 years as a firefighter, I thought it was time to hang it up for good,” he said.
He is a member of American Legion Post 186 in Little River. He spends several mornings each week golfing with friends from the post and also is involved in the many charitable events of Post 186.
Cote and his wife Sharon recently celebrated 55 years of marriage. The couple have five children, Richard, Jeff, Reggie, Michelle and Suzanne.
Firefighting remains a family occupation as Richard is a captain with the Myrtle Beach Fire Department and a recent retiree, as a major, from the Army reserves.
“It has been a great life and I have enjoyed every minute of it,” Cote said. “The opportunity to help people is a great way to give back to the community.”

Veteran of the Week - Don Wolford

By Paul Gable
The Herald

Don Wolford joined the Air Force after graduating from high school in his native Roanoke, Va., in 1958.
“I was 18 years old and wanted to get some training,” said Wolford.
After completing basic training at Lackland A.F.B. in Texas, Wolford was assigned to school for maintenance and repair of avionic electronic gear and bomb navigation systems.
“We worked on all the various electronic instruments in the cockpit of airplanes that help the pilot get to where he is going and back,” Wolford said.
His first permanent duty station was at Seymour Johnson A.F.B. in North Carolina, a Strategic Air Command base at the time.
After three years at Seymour Johnson, Wolford spent the next five years overseas.
“I was in Okinawa for one year and at Bitburg, Germany for four years,” Wolford said. “Bitburg was my favorite duty station. I was there in the mid 1960’s, which was a great time to be stationed in Europe.”
He returned to Orlando, Fla. before being sent to Vietnam for one year in 1969.
“We worked on F-4’s and helicopter gunships in Vietnam,” Wolford said. “With the number of missions that were being flown at that time, we were constantly on the go during my time there.”
Returning to Florida, Wolford helped close McCoy A.F.B. in Orlando before moving to Seymour Johnson and completing a 20-year career in Arkansas.
“I had a great 20 years in the Air Force,” he said. “I enjoyed it the whole time I was in.”
After retiring, Wolford used the knowledge and experience he gained in the service to launch a second career.
“I spent 23 with years National Cash Register working on cash registers, ATM machines and computer systems,” Wolford said. “The training and experience I got in the Air Force did a great job of preparing me for my second career.”
Five years ago, Wolford and his wife Jacky retired to Horry County.
“I wanted to retire in a golf area where I could play year around,” he said. “We decided on the North Myrtle Beach area and have enjoyed it.”
Wolford also joined American Legion Post 186 in Little River three years ago.
“I wanted to meet other service people and get involved in the activities of the post,” he said.
One other important event occurred for Wolford this week. On Tuesday he celebrated his 47th wedding anniversary.
“My wife was with me every step of the way in both careers,” he said. “It’s been a very good life.”