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

He the President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Captain (Infantry) Harvey J. He six years ago (5-16-2013), a grandson of Harvey Cook wrote in a forum. He colonel Cook was a Mason and member of the Central Presbyterian Church, Downingtown, as well as the Lion’s Club. He captain Cook served as S-2 (Intelligence) with the 2nd Ranger Battalion. He my grandfather served as Rudder’s OS-2 (S-2 Intel Officer) and his name was Harvey J. He served as S-2 (Intelligence) with the 2nd Ranger Battalion (“Rudder’s Rangers”). He served the community as a valued citizen, his country as a patriot-soldier and God as faithful-serving Christian. 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. He was Platoon Leader at Camp McClellan in February, 1942. By July 1942, he was transferred to Camp Ritchie as 1st Lt. 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. 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. 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. Colonel Cook retired from the Army in 1972 after having served the nation for more than 32 years.