The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant John Henry Cook, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 9 April 1864, while serving with Company A, 119th Illinois Infantry, in action at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. During an attack by the enemy, Sergeant Cook voluntarily left the brigade quartermaster, with whom he had been detailed as a clerk, rejoined his command, and, acting as first lieutenant, led the line farther toward the charging enemy.