World War II Honoree

Jack Coleman Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Relationship

A Grateful American

He served as a ball turret gunner on the B-17 "Challenger " in the 384th Bomb Group flying missions over Germany. On February 3, 1945, he saved the life of his plane navigator when on a return mission to England from Berlin, the plane was forced to ditch in the North Sea. As the crew abandoned the plane the two inflatable rafts were rescued, but only one opened. He gave up his place on the raft by jumping into the sea and allowing the navigator, Edward Field, to take his place. When the crew was rescued, he succumbed from exhaustion after being in the frigid North Sea.