World War II Honoree

Thomas C. Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS MARCH 5, 1943 AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE NAVY V-12 COLLEGE TRAINING PROGRAM IN JULY 1943 ASSIGNED TO A MARINE DETACHMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN. ATTENDED BOOT CAMP IN APRIL 1943 AT THE MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN OCTOBER 1944 UPON HIS GRADUATION FROM OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL ‘OCS’ AT CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA. SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST BATTALION, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARINE ‘THE OLD BREED’ DIVISION. ON SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 1945, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA AND WAS BURIED IN THE FIRST DIVISION CEMETERY ON OKINAWA. THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA (APRIL 1-JUNE 22, 1945), CODE NAME: OPERATION ICEBERG WAS THE LARGEST AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT IN THE PACIFIC WAR OF WWII. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH JAPAN, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED TO HONOLULU, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC, ‘PUNCHBOWL’ HAWAII. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: SILVER STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE LIEUTENANT WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT AGAINST AN ENEMY FORCE AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.