World War II Honoree

Lonnie D. Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Morris, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AT AGE 19. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP USS ARIZONA (BB-39). HIS SHIP WAS ANCHORED OFF FORD ISLAND ON BATTLESHIP ROW AT PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII AT THE TIME OF THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. AT ABOUT 8:10 A.M., SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST WAVE OF ATTACKS BEGAN AT 7:55 A.M., THE ARIZONA WAS HIT BY A 1,760-POUND ARMOR-PIERCING BOMB NEAR HER NO.2 TURRET THAT PENETRATED INTO THE FORWARD MAGAZINE AND EXPLODED. THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE SHIP EXPLODED AND THE SHIP IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SINK. HE JOINED IN THE EFFORTS TO HELP FALLEN SHIPMATES DURING THE ATTACK, AND RECALLED THAT MANY OF THOSE THAT HE KNEW PERSONALLY WERE BURNED SO BADLY THAT HE COULD NOT RECOGNIZE THEM. THE ARIZONA'S DESTRUCTION RESULTED IN THE HIGHEST DEATH TOLL OF ANY SINGLE WARSHIP LOSS IN U.S. NAVAL HISTORY. A TOTAL OF 1,177 SHIPMATES WERE KILLED IN THE ATTACK. HE WAS ONE OF ABOUT 300 MEN WHO WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE SINKING SHIP; HE WAS ABLE TO ABANDON SHIP IN A BOAT. HE WAS A PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR, HE WAS ASSIGNED FOR DUTY ON DESTROYERS AND TOOK PART IN SEVERAL HISTORIC BATTLES, INCLUDING AT MIDWAY ISLAND IN THE NORTH-CENTRAL PACIFIC, AND IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO. AT IWO, HIS SHIP PROVIDED FIRE SUPPORT, AND HE WITNESSED THE RAISING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG ON MOUNT SURIBACHI. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH 'FLEET' CLASP, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 SILVER SERVICE AND 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (12 COMBAT OPERATIONS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.