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Cook, Harvey J. (0393475): Difference between revisions

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|surname=Cook
|surname=Cook
|first=Harvey
|first=Harvey
|middle=J.
|middle=James
|class_section=1C
|class_section=1C
|class_rank=1st Lt
|class_rank=First Lieutenant
|class_branch=Inf
|birth_year=1918
|birth_year=1918
|death_year=2003
|death_year=2003
|nativity=US
|nativity=United States
|religion=P
|religion=Protestant
|overseas=Y
|overseas=Y
|certificate=2671
|certificate=2671
Line 18: Line 17:
|class_display=9
|class_display=9
|photo=6060924297262774.jpg
|photo=6060924297262774.jpg
|birth_date=2 April 1918
|death_date=25 November 2003
|birth_place=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|arm_or_service=Infantry
|rank_final=Colonel
|awards=Silver Star; Bronze Star
|awards_grid=Silver Star;;Bronze Star
|awards_ribbons=Ribbon_Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.png;Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
|awards_ribbon_rows=Ribbon_Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.png;;Ribbon_Bronze_Star_Medal_ribbon.png
}}
}}


<div class="soldier-lead">
<div class="soldier-lead">
'''[[Cook, Harvey J. (0393475)|Harvey J. Cook]]''' (1918–2003) was a Ritchie Boy (from United States; Protestant) who trained at Camp Ritchie in class 9.
'''[[Cook, Harvey J. (0393475)|Harvey J. Cook]]''' (2 April 1918 – 25 November 2003) was a Philadelphia-born Ritchie Boy (Class 9) who rose to colonel and received the Silver Star and Bronze Star.
</div>
</div>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Cook was a Ritchie Boy. Harvey was born April 2, 1918 in Philadelphia, PA. He worked as a bookkeeper and a junior accountant. He graduated from Michigan State, and was in ROTC. In October, 1941, he received Army Commission as 2nd Lt. He was Platoon Leader at Camp McClellan in February, 1942. By July 1942, he was transferred to Camp Ritchie as 1st Lt. In June, 1943, he started Class 9 "Terrain Intelligence" and on August 18th, 1943 he was a graduate of Class 9. He became an instructor Section VIII on August 21, 1943. From his obituary: Harvey James Cook, was a distinguished member of the 2nd Battalion of World War II Rangers. He was also a retired Army Colonel. Colonel Cook was born April 2, 1918 in Philadelphia, growing up in Narberth, PA. There he shared his father’s passion for baseball and graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1936, then Michigan State College in 1940 where he played varsity baseball while earning a BA in Business Administration. Colonel Cook was commissioned a second lieutenant and entered active duty in October 1941. His first duty station Camp Ritchie, MD, where he taught hand-to-hand combat. There he was recruited by the 2nd Ranger Battalion as an intelligence officer. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, then Captain Cook joined other Rangers to scale the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He was again cited for bravery while participating in small-unit combat operations in the Battle of the Bulge and Huertgen Forest where he was twice awarded the Bronze Star for valor. At war’s end, he was in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia along with other members of the 2nd Rangers awaiting orders back to the United States. Following World War II, Colonel Cook attended the Army’s Advanced Infantry School and the Army Language School where he studied Japanese. He was in Fukuoka, Japan at the outbreak of the Korean War. Colonel Cook saw combat in Korea with the 24th Infantry Division and once again was cited for valor earning yet another Bronze Star. Due to an injury, he was eventually returned to the United States to recuperate and await orders to Germany. Once in post-war Germany Cook was assigned to the Intelligence Director at US Army Headquarters in Heidelberg and later Stuttgart. Colonel Cook served in the Pentagon on the Army General Staff until he was selected to command an Army air defense artillery battalion. This spit-and-polish outfit was responsible for the air defense of the national capital region. Command came naturally for the colonel and his unit achieved unprecedented results on inspections and evaluations. In 1961, he was assigned to the Intelligence Division, NATO Headquarters at Fontainebleau, France, until his return to Fort Holabird, MD in 1964. There he headed the National Agency Check Center, the military clearinghouse for vetting personal security clearances. In 1967, Colonel Cook was again sent into harm’s way, this time to Vietnam as Chief of Military Intelligence for the Military Assistance Command. In 1968, Colonel Cook was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he served on the Pacific Army General staff. After more than 30 years, his final assignment brought him full circle for Narberth to Valley Forge Military Hospital. Colonel Cook retired from the Army in 1972 after having served the nation for more than 32 years. Cook passed away on November 25, 2003.
Harvey J. Cook was born on 2 April 1918 in Philadelphia and grew up in Narberth, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1936 and Michigan State College in 1940, sharing his father’s passion for baseball.
 
He trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 9) and served as a combat intelligence officer in World War II, later rising to colonel. His decorations included the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.
 
He died on 25 November 2003.


== Research notes ==
== Research notes ==
* Faculty Section VIII
* Faculty Section VIII
* SILVER STAR
* SILVER STAR
== Gallery ==
<div class="soldier-gallery">
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140px">
Cook_Harvey_J_0393475_portrait.jpg|Harvey J. Cook portrait (RB Archive)
</gallery>
</div>


== Technical record ==
== Technical record ==
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| row_source || both
| row_source || both
|}
|}
== Timeline ==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline">
<div class="soldier-timeline-body">
* 2 April 1918 — Born in Philadelphia; raised in Narberth, Pennsylvania.
* 1936 / 1940 — Lower Merion High School; Michigan State College.
* Camp Ritchie Class 9 — Combat intelligence training.
* WWII / career — Combat intelligence officer; later colonel; Silver Star; Bronze Star.
* 25 November 2003 — Died.
</div>
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div>


== Sources ==
== Sources ==
* Camp Ritchie class roster (classes 1–31), merged research file
* [[:File:Cook_Harvey_J_0393475_portrait.jpg|Harvey J. Cook portrait (RB Archive)]]
* Family / memorial biography for Harvey J. Cook (RB Archive HARVEY J. COOK.doc notes)
* Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
* Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2023-01-18 (1 post)
* Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2023-01-18 (1 post)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Harvey J. Cook for Camp Ritchie'' (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
* Dan Gross, ''Timeline of Cook, Harvey J. for Camp Ritchie'' (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: HARVEY J. COOK.doc)

Latest revision as of 19:57, 16 September 2026

Harvey James Cook
Harvey James Cook
Personal details
Born2 April 1918
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died25 November 2003
NativityUnited States
ReligionProtestant
AwardsSilver Star; Bronze Star
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Army
Arm / serviceInfantry
ASN0393475
RankColonel
Rank at RitchieFirst Lieutenant
Camp RitchieClass 9 (21 June – 18 August 1943)
Section1C
Awards and honors
Silver Star Bronze Star
Research notes on this page are compiled from the source file and later edits. They may be unverified, incomplete, or incorrect, and should not be treated as established fact. Please correct the article or add sources on the talk page. For class-roster terms, see About the data.
Sources & confidence: Treat Research notes as leads, not settled fact. Prefer NARA, the class roster, newspapers, Find a Grave, or published histories for contested claims. Mark unsourced claims with {{Needs source}}, or explain disagreements on talk. Baseline import notes: About the data.


Harvey J. Cook (2 April 1918 – 25 November 2003) was a Philadelphia-born Ritchie Boy (Class 9) who rose to colonel and received the Silver Star and Bronze Star.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Harvey J. Cook was born on 2 April 1918 in Philadelphia and grew up in Narberth, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1936 and Michigan State College in 1940, sharing his father’s passion for baseball.

He trained at Camp Ritchie (Class 9) and served as a combat intelligence officer in World War II, later rising to colonel. His decorations included the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.

He died on 25 November 2003.

Research notes[edit | edit source]

  • Faculty Section VIII
  • SILVER STAR

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Harvey J. Cook portrait (RB Archive)
    Harvey J. Cook portrait (RB Archive)

Technical record[edit | edit source]

Field Imported value
Approx Age at Death 85
Class_ASN 393475
Class_Name COOK, Harvey J.
match_method asn_exact_name_exact
row_source both

Timeline[edit | edit source]

  • 2 April 1918 — Born in Philadelphia; raised in Narberth, Pennsylvania.
  • 1936 / 1940 — Lower Merion High School; Michigan State College.
  • Camp Ritchie Class 9 — Combat intelligence training.
  • WWII / career — Combat intelligence officer; later colonel; Silver Star; Bronze Star.
  • 25 November 2003 — Died.

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • Harvey J. Cook portrait (RB Archive)
  • Family / memorial biography for Harvey J. Cook (RB Archive HARVEY J. COOK.doc notes)
  • Camp Ritchie Museum, Inc. (The Ritchie History Museum), Classes 1–31 roster data
  • Dan Gross research spreadsheets, including original Excel timeline/roster work, combined with other research and records
  • NARA World War II Army enlistment records (where a NARA ASN is present)
  • 1940 U.S. Census (where a census match is present)
  • Ritchie Boys of WWII Facebook page, post dated 2023-01-18 (1 post)
  • Dan Gross, Timeline of Harvey J. Cook for Camp Ritchie (private research document; 1 source documents reviewed)
  • Dan Gross, Timeline of Cook, Harvey J. for Camp Ritchie (private research files; selected non-private narrative findings; 1 source files: HARVEY J. COOK.doc)
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