World War II Honoree

Fred Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Farina, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1942 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, AND LATER QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF LIGHT ARTILLERY GUN CREWMAN (844). ASSIGNED TO AND TRAINED STATESIDE WITH THE 112TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 28TH ‘KEYSTONE’ INFANTRY DIVISION. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH HIS UNIT ON OCTOBER 8, 1943 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ENTERED COMBAT IN LATE JULY 1944 AND FOUGHT THROUGH THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. BY V-E DAY, HE WAS SERVING WITH THE CHEMICAL MORTAR COMPANY ATTACHED TO HIS UNIT. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SILVER BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON OCTOBER 5, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT.