Navy Federal Credit Union

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Sergeant Cecil Lloyd Cook (ASN: 34788137), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 172d Infantry Regiment, 43d Infantry Division, in action against the enemy at Matapa, New Guinea, on 15 September 1945. On that date Sergeant Cook was a scout on a six-day reconnaissance patrol. As the patrol approached several enemy in an entrenched position, three of the enemy were killed but one still able to throw grenades at the party withdrew into the dugout. Seeing no other way to extricate the enemy, Sergeant Cook climbed a tree branch extending over the dugout opening, but also exposed to enemy fire. As the Japanese were about to throw another grenade, Sergeant Cook killed him, but at the same time a sniper seriously wounded one of the patrol. The only means of evacuating the wounded man expeditiously was by means of a gun boat about 600 yards off shore and a mile and a half to the patrol’s rear. With no radio communication to the boat, Sergeant Cook immediately volunteered to swim through heavy storm surf, but was unable to bring the boat to shore because of the turbulent seas. Instead he used a rubber life boat and rowed to shore, picked up the wounded man, and rowed him back to the gunboat. Upon return to the shore, the current forced him ashore 500 yards beyond the patrol. Then he ran back along the beach to his patrol unarmed and under enemy observation. The great courage and heroism of Sergeant Cook are deserving of the highest praise.

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