He came out of the womb with camo on. It was something that was just part of him growing up. I have a picture of him at 5 years old wearing a camouflage helmet with a toy gun in his hand.
    — Christi Larsen, mother

    In a visit home shortly before his death, Cole described a near-miss when an improvised bomb exploded in front of his unit's vehicle. And he told of how he and a team leader foiled an attempted kidnapping and saved the lives of two Iraqi policemen.
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    11 memories of Cole W. Larsen

    We remember Cole as a kid, when we visited his home on several Halloweens. His mom, Christi, always had the most delicious chili on hand for us to eat. And Cole was always playing tricks on us and his family (it didn't have to be Halloween!). He was a handsome boy, and very kind and caring. We are proud to have known him for those special times.

    — Bill & Joyce Kilby
    May 28, 2008 at 10:48 p.m.

    I dont have a memory or knew him, I just had to say Mannheim germany was a great place for a young soldier to be. I was stationed there in coleman barracks in 81-82........everyone made you feel like family, especially the german woman that worked at the little hanchen?(chicken) hut......and the little px on post...........

    — Faith
    June 29, 2008 at 1:55 p.m.

    Cole was so loved by his family, they did everything together from camping to cooking. He had just been on leave to Santa Clarita to esscort his sister at the homecoming football game, which was the last time most of us saw him.

    We only wish we could take the heartache his parents and sister have to live with every single day.

    Freedom is not free as they say, and Cole gave the ultimate sacrifice, his life for our country.

    Margaret and Alan McKinnon his aunt and uncle

    — Alan and Margaret Mckinnon
    July 12, 2008 at 9:56 a.m.

    I remember when Cole came home for leave. I took him to a club I used to work at and saw a huge smile on his face that stayed there all night long. I remember talking to him about his furture plans and it was nice to be friends with him considering he was my little cousin and I used to always pick on him.

    — Erik Stephens
    July 21, 2008 at 10:58 a.m.

    I didn't know Cole, but I have much respect for the fact the he died with honor serving his country. I live in his community and I know how his parents feel. My son was also an MP and when he returned from the military he joined a local police department where he was shot and killed by gang members. He was killed just a year before Cole on November 15th. To his parents: I am very sorry for your loss.

    — Mike Pavelka
    May 24, 2009 at 6:25 a.m.

    Hello, I am with the Home of the Brave Quilt project and am looking for the parents/next of kin for Pfc Cole W. Larsen. I know he was killed 11-13-04. I have a quilt to present to his parents. The Nat'l website is: www.homeofthebravequilts.com if you want to check me out.
    Please contact me.

    — luann parker
    September 24, 2009 at 6:29 p.m.

    I was a good friend of Cole's. I met him freshman year, we had two classes together. I had at least two classes with him every semester all four years of high school. Many times I told people that Cole was the funniest person I knew! that guy had his own humor that nobody else could match. Some say that I am pretty funny too so when me and Cole had classes together, oh man we had people laughing all day! he kept a straight face too when he said funny stuff, which to me...made his humor even better. Cole was one of my favorite people I went to school with. -Love ya and Miss ya Cole.

    — Talon Potter
    October 5, 2009 at 12:13 a.m.

    It's been seven years now but it's seems like just yesterday when we went to Downtown Disney when Cole was on leave in 2004. While he loved being with his family he seemed to long to get back to work in Iraq. We love you Cole and miss you. Thank you so much for everything you've meant to our family and for your service to our country! We love you. Uncle Steve, Aunt Shari, Kyle and Trevor Engel

    — steve engel
    July 28, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.

    I served with Cole in Iraq and still to this day I remember him. We were in different platoons but very rarely when I saw him was he not joking around and putting a smile on everyone's face. He was a great soldier that will be remembered by many of his brothers and sisters in arms.

    — Mark Kohlin
    August 26, 2011 at 12:32 p.m.

    I had the honor of serving with Cole in Iraq. He was an outstanding soldier and a good friend. I remember when he got back from leave, in the chow hall, we talked about the times he spent with his family and how much fun he had on leave. He will never be forgotten.

    — Matthew Pruett
    February 21, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.

    still missing you every day you will never be forgotten you left a everlasting memory with ever one that met you . love you

    — bruce feeney
    November 11, 2012 at 1:19 p.m.

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    California's War Dead is the Los Angeles Times' collection of stories about the 737 California servicemembers and 490 others based in California who died during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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