The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technician Fifth Grade Vincent D. Cook (ASN: 3533376), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 253d Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, in action on 8 April 1945, in the vicinity of Stein, Germany. The company reached its initial objective after an intense fire fight and was immediately subjected to additional fire from a secondary enemy position. Technician Fifth Grade Cook, observing the mounting toll of casualties, ordered another man to take over one of the machine guns, the gunners of which were casualties, and to establish a base of fire. He then alone moved toward the enemy positions by creeping and crawling until he was close enough to assault them. He rushed the emplacements and killed or captured the enemy who held them, before signaling a group forward to secure the position from future attack. The intrepidity and courage displayed by Technician Fifth Grade Cook in this action reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.