The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Colonel James L. Cooper (MCSN: 0-67148), United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Readiness and, subsequently, as Chief of Staff on the Staff of the Commanding General, SECOND Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic from July 1982 to February 1984. Colonel Cooper’s performance in these extremely demanding and diverse billets was characterized by superior professionalism, technical competence, and exemplary leadership of the highest order. As the Deputy Chief of Staff, Readiness, his innovative recommendations and superb managerial skills proved invaluable in the supervision of Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluations which not only provided commanders with complete descriptive evaluations but exposed all unit members to realistic battlefield conditions which vastly enhanced the Division’s overall combat readiness. Acting collaterally as Division Inspector, his unique sensitivity and acute perceptiveness in the screening of request masts enabled him to quickly identify and take action to rectify legitimate problems. As the Chief of Staff, Colonel Cooper’s depth of experience was again evident while coordinating a wide variety of complex staff functions. His personal efforts toward developing strong and viable relationships with government and military leaders of various nations were manifested by his tact and diplomacy while hosting a multitude of visiting dignitaries from around the world. By his outstanding leadership, perceptive judgment, and inspiring devotion to duty, Colonel Cooper reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Silver Star
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Defense Superior Service Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Silver Star
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
Major [then Captain]Batallion:
2d BattalionRegiment:
5th MarinesDivision:
1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMFAction Date:
June 21, 1966
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major [then Captain] James L. Cooper (MCSN: 0-67148), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer of Company E, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 21 June 1966, Company E was assigned to assess the damage resulting from a B-52 aircraft bombing mission on a suspected headquarters of a North Vietnamese Army division near Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province. Arriving by transport helicopter in the designated area amidst enemy fire from both sides of the landing zone, Major Cooper directed the deployment of his men into a defensive perimeter and commenced his assessment of the B-52 strike damage. Subsequently, as the unit maneuvered down the slope of a hill to the valley floor the Marines came under a heavy volume of automatic weapons, rocket and mortar fire from a large hostile force. Skillfully maneuvering his company and directing his men’s devastating fire, Major Cooper launched an aggressive assault against the North Vietnamese, driving them from their positions and inflicting numerous casualties. After completing his bomb damage assessment, he then commenced withdrawing his company toward the proposed landing zone, two thousand meters distant. Realizing Major Cooper’s intent, the enemy, now considerably reinforced and numbering approximately 750 soldiers, surrounded the company and interdicted the route to the landing zone. Exercising outstanding tactical skill and making full use of 81-mm. supporting arms fire, Major Cooper led an attack on the hostile cordon and, constantly exposing himself to the enemy fire, moved from one position to another shouting words of confidence to his men and directing their orderly deployment. After his unit had smashed through the cordon and arrived at the landing zone, which was still under North Vietnamese fire, he supervised the embarkation of his company aboard the extraction aircraft, completely disregarding the enemy rounds impacting nearby. His heroic actions and aggressive fighting spirit inspired his men and were instrumental in his company accounting for fifty enemy soldiers killed without loss of a single Marine life. By his courage, superb leadership and unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk, Major Cooper upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
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Defense Superior Service Medal
Service:
United States Marine CorpsRank:
ColonelAction Date:
July 7, 1975 – July 10, 1978
Under the provisions of Department of Defense 1348.33-M, the Secretary of Defense of the United States of America takes pleasure in awarding the Defense Superior Service Medal to Colonel James L. Cooper (MCSN: 0-67148), United States Marine Corps, for superior meritorious service from 7 July 1975 to 10 July 1978 while serving as an Action Officer, Joint Operations Division, Operations Directorate, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During this period, Colonel Cooper demonstrated outstanding professionalism, imagination, judgment, and dedication to duty while assisting the Director for Operations and the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the staffing of highly significant Joint Staff actions. This included the preparation of briefing on U.S. military capabilities used during the transition period by the President-elect and his principal advisors; the development of a series of no-notice readiness exercises to be executed by the President; and the formulation of Joint Staff contingency plans concerned with sensitive operations. By his exemplary performance of duty, Colonel Cooper has reflected great credit upon himself, the United States Marine Corps, and the Department of Defense.
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Legion of Merit
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel James L. Cooper (MCSN: 0-67148), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States.