T/5 Vincent D. Cook 3533376

Technician Fifth Grade Vincent “Vinnie” D. Cook 3533376, United States Army. He was born on February 17, 1921, in Montpelier, Ohio, the son of Verlin Bryan Cook and Hazel Faye Brannon Cook. He graduated from Montpelier High School. He married Myrtle May Knecht Cook, on September 2, 1943, they had 1 son Tad. Vincent entered the US Army on July 27, 1942, at the age of 21. At the time of his enlistment he was 5 foot 6 inches tall weighed 140 pounds had blue eyes and blonde hair. He served at Camp Van Dorn Mississippi, he 1st served in F Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division. He transferred to E Company, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, He served in Combat with E Company from December 1944 until Victory in Europe day. T/5 Cook earned the Silver Star Medal on April 8, 1945 when serving in Company E, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63d Infantry Division, 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. 

He was Awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, The Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, The American Theater of operations Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal ETO with 2 battle stars, and the World War Two Victory Medal. He was discharged on Jan 14, 1946 after 3 years 5 months and 4 days in the service. He died on January 19, 1998, in Montpelier, Ohio, at the age of 76, and was buried there. 

https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&tf=F&q=35333376&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=5666654

63rd Division records GO 541

63rd Division rosters

the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947

the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014

the Ohio, U.S., Death Records,

U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010

Montpelier High School Yearbook