World War II Honoree

Mack G. Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY MAY 28, 1942 AT FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA. SERVED AS A PARATROOPER IN EUROPE WITH F-COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL-AMERICAN’ DIVISION. JUMPED INTO THE PICAUVILLE AREA, THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, BATTLE OF NORMANDY. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT’S OBJECTIVE WAS TO DESTROY THE BRIDGES OVER THE DOUVE RIVER AND TO ESTABLISH A SECURE BRIDGEHEAD UP TO LE-HAMEAU-RENOUF, NORMANDY. ON TUESDAY, JULY 4, 1944, HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING THE CAPTURE OF LA HAYE-DU-PUITS, FRANCE AND WAS BURIED IN THE TEMPORARY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY LOCATED AT BLOSVILLE, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR AND PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY. 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.