World War II Honoree

Doyle E. Cooper

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Booneville, Arkansas

Honored By

Ron W. Cooper

Relationship

Son

HE WAS A 60MM MORTAR MAN, RIFLEMAN WITH GENERAL PATTON'S 3RD ARMY, 5TH 'RED DIAMOND' DIVISION, 10TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. HE WAS IN COMBAT FROM LATE AUGUST 1944 TO DECEMBER 25, 1944. HE WAS WOUNDED TWICE BEFORE THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. IN THAT BATTLE, HE WAS BADLY WOUNDED IN A MORTAR DUEL ON DECEMBER 25 IN LUXEMBOURG IN THE RACE TO BASTOGNE TO RELIEVE THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION. HE THEN CAUGHT RHEUMATIC FEVER IN THE HOSPITAL AND IT ALMOST KILLED HIM. UPON RECOVERY, HE SERVED AS A MILITARY POLICEMAN IN MARSEILLES, FRANCE UNTIL JANUARY 1946. HE WAS OVERSEAS A TOTAL OF 19 MONTHS. AWARDED 2 BRONZE STARS, A PURPLE HEART (THOUGH WOUNDED 3 TIMES), A GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND MANY RIBBONS. HE WAS PROUD TO HAVE SERVED, ESPECIALLY WITH GENERAL PATTON'S OUTFIT, THOUGH HE ALMOST NEVER SPOKE OF IT.