Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 27th, 1944

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Unit:

Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

November 6th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Awarded on:

September 28th, 1945

Citation:
"For gallantry in action against the enemy at Metapa, New Guinea on 15 September 1944. On that date Sergeant Cook was a scout on a six day reconnaissance patrol. As the patrol approached several enemy in an entranched position, three of the enemy were killed but one still able to throw grenades at the party withdrew into the dugout. Seeing no other way of extricating the enemy, Sergeant Cook climbed a tree branch extending over the dugout opening, but also exposed to enemy fire. As the Japanese were about to throw another grenade, Sergeant Cook killed him, but at the same time a sniper seriously wounded one of the patrol.
The only means of evecuating the wounded man expeditiously was by means of a gun boat about 600 yards off shore and a mile and a half to the patrol's rear. With no radio communication to the boat, Sergeant Cook immediately volunteered to swim through heavy storm surf, but was unable to bring the boat to shore because of the turbulent seas. Instead he used a rubber life boat and rowed to shore, picked up the wounded man, and rowed him back to the gunboat. Upon return to the shore, the current forced him ashore 500 yards beyond the patrol. Then he ran back along the beach to his patrol unarmed an under enemy observation. The great courage and heroism of Sergeant Cook are deserving of the highest praise."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)