World War II Honoree

Garland Buster Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wilmington, North Carolina

Honored By

Garland Neal Cook

Relationship

Son

HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY ON JUNE 29, 1938 AT FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MARYLAND. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY C OF THE 93RD INFANTRY BATTALION. PROMOTION TO CORPORAL, MARCH 13, 1940; PROMOTION TO SERGEANT, FEBRUARY 10, 1941; HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON JUNE 28, 1941 AT FORT MEADE AFTER SERVING 3 YEARS. HE REACHED THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND WAS A PLATOON LEADER FOR THE UNIT; JUNE 29, 1941, HE RE ENLISTED AND WAS PLACED BACK INTO THE 93RD INFANTRY TO CONTINUE HIS SERVICE. IT WAS FROM THAT SAME GROUP OF MEN THAT THE ANTI-TANK BATTALION WAS CREATED AND WAS LATER RE-DESIGNATED AS THE 893RD TANK DESTROYER BATTALION. HIS SET HIMSELF APART NOT ONLY AS A LEADER BUT BY EXCELLING AT INDIVIDUAL FIREARMS SKILLS. HE RECEIVED AN EXPERT QUALIFICATION FOR PISTOL, RIFLE AND .50 CAL. MACHINE GUN. IT WAS ONLY WITH THE CARBINE THAT HE EARNED THE SLIGHTLY LOWER RATING OF SHARPSHOOTER. HE CONTINUED AS A PLATOON LEADER WITH RESPONSIBILITIES OVER A NUMBER OF TANK DESTROYERS, SHIPPING OUT WITH THE UNIT ON JANUARY 9, 1944, AND LANDING IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON THE 20TH. HE RECEIVED CREDIT FOR THREE OF THE UNIT'S CAMPAIGNS, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE AND RHINELAND AND SUSTAINED WOUNDS ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944, WHILE IN BELGIUM, AND ON BOTH NOVEMBER 6 AND 7, 1944 WHILE IN GERMANY. IT WAS THESE LAST WOUNDS THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY SEND HIM HOME AND PERMANENTLY DISABLE HIM. HE SPENT OVER A YEAR IN HOSPITALS BEFORE FINALLY BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE SERVICE AT ASHFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL IN WEST VIRGINIA ON NOVEMBER 24, 1945. HE EARNED A BRONZE STAR, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER. HONORABLE DISCHARGE NOVEMBER 24, 1945.