World War II Honoree

Robert Eugene Cooke

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Midwest, Wyoming

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Yeoman Third Class. He was inducted into the United States Navy April 27, 1943 at Cheyenne, Wyoming, with recruit training at the U.S. Naval Training Station San Diego, California. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he was transferred to the USS Hull Destroyer, DD-350 for duty in the Administration Section. The Destroyer and her shipmates on November 20, 1944 rendezvous with a fast carrier striking forces in the Philippine Sea for the impending invasion of the Philippines. Reported missing in action, lost at sea Monday, December 18, 1944 when his warship capsized; sinking off-shore of Luzon Island, during Typhoon Cobra AKA: Typhoon of 1944. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at the American Cemetery at Fort William-McKinley in Manila, Philippine Islands. This American Patriot was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, for his ultimate sacrifice in defense of his country.