World War II Honoree

Cook Cleland

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

East Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

Ora Lee Cleland & Todd, Jr.

Relationship

Wife & Son

JOINED THE U.S. NAVY IN 1940. COMPLETED FLIGHT TRAINING AT LAMBERT FIELD, MISSOURI. QUALIFIED AS A DIVE BOMBER PILOT AT THE PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR STATION, FLORIDA. ASSIGNED TO THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER, USS LEXINGTON FLYING A DOUGLAS SBD DAUNTLESS DIVE BOMBER. SERVED IN EVERY MAJOR OPERATION IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS EXCEPT MIDWAY. HIS REAR GUNNER AND HIMSELF ARE CREDITED WITH DESTROYING 8 ENEMY AIRCRAFT AND BECOMING AN AIR ACE. ALSO CREDITED WITH SINKING A JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER. AWARDED THE U.S. NAVY CROSS, AIR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, U.S. NAVY COMMENDATION MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.