World War II Honoree

Everett Rudolph Cooley, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hillsville, Virginia

Honored By

Major Michael G. McGrady, USMC (Retired)

ENTERED SERVICE APRIL 10,1941. TRAINED AS INFANTRY AND PARATROOPER. TRAINED AT FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY, FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, INDIANA, FORT RAY, ALASKA, AND FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. EMBARKED FOR ALASKA ON AUGUST 29, 1941, FOR THE ALEUTIANS ON FEBRUARY 6, 1943 AND CENTRAL EUROPE IN JANUARY 1945. MEDALS EARNED WERE: AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE RIBBON, BRONZE STAR, ASIATIC-PACIFIC SERVICE RIBBON AND THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE RIBBON. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1947 AND WAS DISCHARGED FROM FORT MEADE, MARYLAND ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1947 WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT.