World War II Honoree

Andrew Fred Cook, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Red Jacket, West Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SEPTEMBER 15, 1938 AND ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. WHILE SERVING IN THE FIELD WITH THE UNITED STATES 1ST MARINE DIVISION IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT JULY 14, 1942. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GUADALCANAL SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1942 CODE NAME: OPERATION WATCHTOWER (AUGUST 7, 1942-FEBRUARY 9, 1943), SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN, ASSIGNED TO A-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1942, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION WHILE LEADING A PATROL THAT WAS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SEEKING OUT HOSTILE FORCES IN THE VICINITY OF KOLI POINT. WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE JAPANESE, HE BOLDLY RUSHED A MACHINE GUN NEST AND WAS KILLED DURING HIS ATTEMPT TO DESTROY THE CREW. HE WAS BURIED IN THE ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS CEMETERY ON GUADALCANAL, AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO HONOLULU, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY, ‘PUNCHBOWL’ HAWAII. HE IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE GUADALCANAL AMERICAN MEMORIAL LOCATED ON SKYLINE DRIVE OVERLOOKING THE TOWN OF HONIARA, GUADALCANAL. IN HIS HONOR AND MEMORY, THE FAST-ATTACK TRANSPORT USS COOK, APD-130 LAUNCHED AUGUST 26, 1944, SPONSORED BY HIS MOTHER WAS NAMED FOR HIM AND HIS MARINE BROTHER DALLAS, WHO WAS KILLED ON MAKIN ISLAND ATOLL. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: RECIPIENT OF THE NAVY CROSS AND PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY. THE MARINE WAS AWARDED NAVY CROSS FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM AND CONSPICUOUS DEVOTION TO DUTY IN COMBAT AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.