Private First Class Jack Cook

Private First Class Jack Cook, ASN 42006641 was an original member of the 513th having been assigned to the First Platoon of Company "F" when it was being formed in the Alabama area of Fort Benning, Georgia. Jack served with Company "F" continuously from the date of activation until he was Wounded In Action on 30 March 1945 near Potthof, Germany, a few days before the capture of Munster. He died of Wounds on 6 April 1945.

He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action that led up to his tragic and untimely death.  Unfortunately, a few days after Jack was wounded, the order came down to the Company Commander to get him "off the line" because of his age. Sadly, Jack was only 16 years of age when he died from his wounds and could very weil have been the youngest man in the 17th Airborne Division to lose his life.

Another "F" Company man, Larry Duprey, remembers that he had just been flown bé!ck to the States and admitted to a Military Hospital in New York City to be treated for his wounds. They had just put him in bed when a Red Cross Grey Lady, who had apparently read Larry's na me and unit on the Hospital register, entered his room and asked "Were you in Company "F" of the 513th?" When he answered in the affirmative she quickly asked "Then did you know Jack Cook"? When he again answered in the affirmative she told him that Jack) was her adopted son.

She related to Larry that Jack was only fourteen years of age when he enlisted in the service and had made her promise that she wouldn't notify the Army that he was underage. She told Larry that her conscience had bothered her so much about it that she was unable to sleep, and for that reason had notified the Military that he was underage.

"Jack didn't talk much about his life prior t her service years so very little is known about him except the information' adoptive Mother gave Larry Duprey. He was orphaned at a very young age and that she and her husband had adopted him. Former members of the First Platoon remember him as being friendly and weil liked, and although slightly quiet, he fit right in. Jack was a tall, strong, weil built young man and several of his Buddies from the First Platoon have remarked that, although he looked young, it never occurred to them from his actions that he was so very young. They remember him as being a good soldier, a team worker, very dependable and especially proud to be an Airborne Trooper. They also remember that he was very serious about a girl he always talked about whom he affectionately called "Chickee."

Jack is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margratten, Holland. Plot: F Row: 20 Grave: 21