“Charlie”
Charles Vernon Cole
February 28, 1955- September 5, 2019
Charlie Cole was an American photojournalist best known for his World Press Award winning Tiananmen Square photo of the Tank Man, which has become a worldwide symbol of peaceful protest against oppression.
Born in 1955 in Bonham, Texas, even as a young boy, Charlie was an observer. With a rambunctious and adventurous older brother, he was often times in the line of fire as the target for his brother’s throwing and BB shooting practice. It’s no wonder Charlie could navigate the combat zones of war and civic unrest.
Academically influenced by his high school photography teacher, Charlie went on to graduate in1978 from North Texas State University, with a degree in Photojournalism. Thereafter, he worked for several domestic newspapers including the Colorado Springs Sun, and Colorado Springs Gazette.
In 1980, when his father, who was a Command Chaplain in the US Air Force, was stationed in Tokyo, Charlie and his best friend, Steve Gardner, moved to Asia to pursue their freelance work. It was this opportunity to build his portfolio that allowed him to cover political unrest as well as personal stories for international and American publications such as Newsweek, Time and The New York Times.
After living in several Asian countries, Charlie returned to Tokyo in the early 1990’s where he suffered a debilitating motorcycle accident, ending his “foot soldier” career. Not too long after his accident, Charlie moved back to the US where he settled in Seattle, Washington.
It wasn’t until the Bosnian conflict where he flew with US Stealth aircraft, that his career resumed, for a short time. He returned to Asia, and settled in Bali, Indonesia. His sudden and untimely death from sepsis was brought on from a “slip and fall” in his home.
Charlie was dearly loved and his kind heart will be truly missed.