President Trump calls Dayton native, last surviving Doolittle Raider

101-year-old Dick Cole was in Dayton recently for ceremony honoring raid.

President Donald Trump has spoken with a Dayton native who is the last surviving member of the World War II-era Doolittle Raiders ahead of Independence Day.

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The White House says that Trump spoke Sunday with 101-year-old Lt. Col. Dick Cole who now lives in Comfort, Texas, thanking him for his service. Trump also wished Cole a full recovery following a recent fall.

Cole served as the co-pilot of the lead B-25 bomber during the 1942 raid on Tokyo. The mission took place during the early months of America’s involvement in World War II. Leading the group of 16 bombers was Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle.

Cole was last in Dayton in April to mark the 75th anniversary of the raid.

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