World War II Honoree

Alburton F. Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cement, Oklahoma

Honored By

Mike Hancock

Relationship

Son-in-law

SERIAL NUMBER 38 062979. INDUCTED INTO U.S. ARMY SERVICE AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA ON JANUARY 9, 1942. ASSIGNED WITH THE 807TH TANK DESTROYER BATTALION MARCH 1, 1942 AT CAMP COOKE, CALIFORNIA. ADVANCED TRAINING AT CAMP HOOD, TEXAS AND CAMP GRUBER, OKLAHOMA AND PARTICIPATED IN LOUISIANA MANEUVERS. EMBARKED FROM NEW YORK TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ARRIVING LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND ON AUGUST 22, 1944. LANDED AT UTAH BEACH FRANCE SEPTEMBER 18TH AND SECURED THE MOSELLE RIVER IN THE METZ SECTOR, SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER. ATTACKED TOWARD SAARLAUTERN IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 1944. BATTLED THE GERMAN NORDWIND OFFENSIVE IN JANUARY 1945 DURING THE LORRAINE AND NORTHERN ALSACE. SHIFTED NORTH FOR OFFENSIVE TO THE RHINE IN EARLY MARCH 1945. HIS UNIT DEFENDED RHINE RIVER BRIDGES IN APRIL AND CONVERTED TO THE M18 TANK TO JOIN DRIVES THROUGH BAVARIA IN LATE APRIL. REACHED THE VICINITY OF SALZBURG, AUSTRIA IN EARLY MAY WHEN GERMANY SURRENDERED MAY 7, 1945. ATTACHED TO 101ST AIRBORNE, THE 5TH, 30TH, 35TH, 75TH, 83RD AND 86TH INFANTRY DIVISIONS. ARRIVED BACK TO U.S. AT HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA ON JULY 16, 1945. SENT TO CAMP HOOD, TEXAS SEPTEMBER 22, 1945 AND HONORABLY SEPARATED. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE CAMPAIGN STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY SERVICE MEDAL.