Julian Cook

For the U.S. judge, see Julian Abele Cook Jr.
Julian Aaron Cook
Born (1916-10-07)October 7, 1916
Mount Holly, Vermont, United States
Died June 19, 1990(1990-06-19) (aged 73)
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1940—1968
Rank Colonel
Service number 0-23290
Unit Infantry Branch
Commands held 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Distinguished Service Cross
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Purple Heart (3)
Military William Order

Colonel Julian Aaron Cook (October 7, 1916 – June 19, 1990) was an officer of the United States Army who gained fame during World War II for his crossing of the Waal river during Operation Market Garden in September 1944.

Biography

Cook was born at Mount Holly, Vermont on October 7, 1916. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, and graduated as an officer, with the rank of second lieutenant, in 1940. He volunteered for the airborne forces in 1942, joining the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (504th PIR), which became part of the 82nd "All American" Airborne Division.

Cook made combat jumps into Sicily, Salerno, and Anzio before taking command of the 3rd Battalion of the 504th PIR just prior to Operation Market Garden. The regiment, due to heavy losses in Italy and a lack of airborne replacements, did not participate in the Allied invasion of Normandy.[1]

On September 17, 1944, Cook, now a major, jumped into the Netherlands near the Maas-Waal Canal. After assisting in securing the canal crossing, his unit marched to Nijmegen. Major General Gavin, commanding the 82nd Airborne, had ordered a crossing of the Waal River during daylight hours so the Americans could outflank the German defenders, who were dug in around the city’s crucial bridges. Cook was put in charge of the crossing, was in the first wave across the river. As Cook’s first wave began their crossing, the Allied bombardment began. The wind blew away the smokescreen, leaving the men in the water open and visible to the German guns. As a devout Catholic, Cook loudly recited Hail Mary during the crossing, spurring his men on under the withering fire. He took charge of the boats, redirecting those who were disoriented and pushing the men along. Once ashore, the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment cleared the river bank, moved north and assaulted the railway bridge over the highway leading to the main road bridge in the village of Lent.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Cook was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.[9]

After Market Garden, Cook was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Cook led his battalion during the Ardennes Offensive in fights around Trois-Ponts, Cheneux[10] and Herresbach, and later on in the drive through Germany. At the end of the war he was promoted to colonel.

In 1953 Cook became American liaison officer to the French forces in French Indochina. There he became ill and spent eight months in hospitals.

He died at Columbia, SC on June 19, 1990.

Robert Redford portrayed Cook in the 1977 film A Bridge Too Far.

Honours and awards

On October 8, 1945 by Royal Decree, Cook was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina, with the rank of Knight 4th class of the Military William Order. The Order is the highest and oldest honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is bestowed for "performing excellent acts of Bravery, Leadership and Loyalty in battle".[11] It is an extremely prestigious award, comparable to the French Légion d’honneur or the American Medal of Honor, but far less frequently awarded.

References

  1. ↑ Gavin, James (1978). On to Berlin. New York: Viking Press. p. 178.
  2. ↑ It Never Snows in September by Robert Kershaw
  3. ↑ The Battle For The Rhine by Robin Neilands
  4. ↑ Reflect on Things Past by Peter Carington
  5. ↑ Market Garden Then and Now by Karel Magry
  6. ↑ Gavin, James (1978). On to Berlin. New York: Viking Press. pp. 178–181.
  7. ↑ MacDonald, Charles (1963). The Siegfried Line Campaign. Washington: Office of the Chief of Military History. pp. 179–182.
  8. ↑ Ryan, Cornelius (1974). A Bridge Too Far. New York: Simon and Schuster. pp. 456–468. ISBN 0-671-21792-5.
  9. ↑ "Valor awards for Julian Aaron Cook". Military Times Hall of Valor. 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  10. ↑ Gavin, James (1978). On to Berlin. New York: Viking Press. pp. 224–225.
  11. ↑ Military order of William - Official website
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.