World War II Honoree

Gerald Leslie Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wind Ridge, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Vernon S. Cook

Relationship

Brother

ENTERED IN 1943 AT FORT GEORGE MEADE, MARYLAND. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON. IN NOVEMBER 1944 HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 66TH PANTHER DIVISION IN ENGLAND. ON DECEMBER 24, 1944 HIS UNIT DEPLOYED TO FRANCE VIA THE ENGLISH CHANNEL ON BOARD THE BELGIAN STEAMSHIP LEOPOLDVILLE. WHILE EN ROUTE TO CHERBOURG, FRANCE HIS SHIP WAS HIT BY A GERMAN TORPEDO. SURVIVORS WERE TRANSFERRED TO A BRITISH DESTROYER. HE SAW ACTION IN LORIENT, ST. NAZAIRE, LA CROIX AND LATER OCCUPIED KOBLENZ, GERMANY. DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE SERVICE IN 1946 AT DEMING ARMY AIR BASE, NEW MEXICO WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT.