Thomas C. Cook born in Cameron, Clinton County, Missouri, USA on was 20 years old when we he was killed in action July 19th 1944. He is my uncle and we are extremely proud of him and will never forget him and what he did for us
Excerpt from the war diary
After the capture of ST. Lô, the First Army's men and tanks moved into northern France, signifying the completion of the Normandy Campaign. The men of the 115th Infantry earned their first battle star. However, this achievement came at a high cost as no unit could evade the tragic loss of their comrades with scores killed, wounded, and missing. Unfortunately, the rifle companies were the most affected as barely half of their authorized strength remained for frontline duty.
Despite rumors circling about immediate relief for the Division, when the 115th Infantry relieved the 116th Infantry on July 19, east of St. Lô, they prepared for upcoming assignments. However, as soon as the relief operation finished, orders arrived that the 115th Regiment had to exit the frontline by 0200 on July 20, with the 35th Infantry Division taking over the post not just from the 115th but also from the other two regiments of the 29th Division.
After forty-four consecutive days of contact with the enemy, the 115th Infantry was ordered to rest and regroup. Sadly for Thomas this was not the case. He was killed in action on July 19, 1944.
THE MARCELINE NEWS
Marceline, Missouri, Friday, Sept. 1, 1944
WOUNDS FATAL TO SOLDIER - Thomas C. Cook, son of Mr. & Mrs. Lewis Cook of Avondale, former residents of the Marceline community, died Aug. 16 in a hospital in France of wounds received in action about a week before. The young man's mother is a sister of Charles Edgar here and was reared on a farm east of Marceline. Mr. & Mrs. Cook formerly lived on a farm east of town. The young man was born in Cameron. He had visited frequently at the Edgar home here. He was in the infantry and had been overseas several months.
Note: The Marceline news date information is not accurate. A copy of the letter from the war department sent to the family notifying of Thomas' death clearly stated that Thomas was shot on the 18th of July and died the next day the 19th of july 1944.
His nephew David Cook
