United States Army officer
Colonel
Julian Aaron Cook
(October 7, 1916 ? June 19, 1990) was an
officer
of the
United States Army
who gained fame during
World War II
for his crossing of the
Waal river
during
Operation Market Garden
in September 1944.
Biography
[
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]
Cook was born at
Mount Holly
,
Vermont
, on October 7, 1916, to an American father Nelson Pingrey Cook and an English mother, Honora (nee Gallagher). His parents met when Nelson, a travelling salesman in the UK, stopped for the night in a hotel in
West Auckland, County Durham
, and having enjoyed his evening meal, asked to compliment the cook, Honora Gallagher.
Julian Cook attended the
United States Military Academy
at West Point, and was commissioned as a
second lieutenant
on graduation in 1940. He volunteered for the
airborne forces
in 1941, joining the
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
(504th PIR) as a cadre member on May 1, 1942, which became part of the
82nd "All American" Airborne Division
. Cook started as Regimental Adjutant, as described in detail in
Birth of a Regiment
.
Cook made combat jumps into
Sicily
,
Salerno
, and
Anzio
before taking command of the 3rd Battalion of the 504th PIR in the spring of 1944, just months before
Operation Market Garden
. The regiment, due to heavy losses in Italy and a lack of airborne replacements, did not participate in the
Allied
invasion of Normandy
.
[1]
On September 17, 1944, Major Cook jumped into the Netherlands near Overasselt. His battalion was initially involved in patrols to Wychen and Diervoort. Cook's most important battle was the Waal River Crossing, as detailed in great detail in
The Battle of the Bridges
.
Brigadier General
James M. Gavin
, commanding the 82nd Airborne, had ordered a crossing of the Waal River during daylight hours so the Americans could outflank the
German
defenders, who were dug in around the city's crucial bridges. Put in charge of the crossing, Cook was in the first wave across the river. As Cook's first wave began their crossing, the Allied bombardment began. The wind blew away the smokescreen, leaving the men in the water visible to the German guns. As a devout
Catholic
, Cook loudly recited
Hail Mary
during the crossing, spurring his men on under the withering fire. He took charge of the boats, redirecting those who had become disoriented and pushing the men along. Once ashore, the 504th PIR cleared the river bank, moved north and assaulted the railway bridge over the highway leading to the main road bridge in the village of Lent.
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
Cook was subsequently awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross
, the citation for which reads:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Infantry) Julian Aaron Cook (ASN: 0-23290), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 3d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 20 September, 1944, near Nijmegen, Holland. Major Cook led his battalion with unparalleled bravery in the initial assault wave during the daring daylight crossing of the Waal River. Although his boatload suffered heavy casualties as a result of the incessant enemy small arms and artillery fire which raked the 250 yard wide stream, he guided the barge safely ashore. Although still under heavy fire, Major Cook remained on the river bank directing the remainder of his battalion coming ashore. On several occasions he plunged back into the river to pull damaged boats ashore and to care for the wounded. During the crossing heavy casualties were suffered, but Major Cook quickly reorganized the remainder of his battalion and led it successfully from objective to objective during the 4000-yard attack, until the north end of the Nijmegen bridge was reached and seized. Major Cook's thoroughness in effecting rapid reorganization and consolidation after the seizure of each intermediate objective was highly instrumental in the success of the entire operation. Major Cook's inspiring leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
[9]
After Market Garden, Cook was promoted to
lieutenant colonel
. Cook led his battalion during the
Ardennes offensive
in fighting around
Trois-Ponts
, Cheneux
[10]
and
Herresbach
, and later on in the
drive through Germany
. At the end of the war, he was promoted to
colonel
.
In 1953 Cook became American liaison officer to the French forces in
French Indochina
. There he became ill, and spent eight months in hospitals.
He died at
Columbia
,
South Carolina
, on June 19, 1990.
Robert Redford
portrayed Cook in the 1977 film
A Bridge Too Far
.
Honors and awards
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]
On October 8, 1945, by
Royal Decree
, Cook was
knighted
by
Queen Wilhelmina
, with the rank of Knight 4th class of the
Military William Order
. The Order is the highest and oldest
honour
of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands
, which is bestowed for "performing excellent acts of Bravery, Leadership and Loyalty in battle".
[11]
It is comparable to the French
Legion d'honneur
or the American
Medal of Honor
, but far less frequently awarded.
On September 19, 2022, a plaque was unveiled in Cook's honor on an apartment complex named after him in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
[12]
[13]
References
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Bibliography
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]
- Lunteren, Frank van,
Birth of a Regiment: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Sicily and Salerno.
Permuted Press LLC, 2022.
- Lunteren, Frank van,
The Battle of the Bridges: The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Operation Market Garden.
Casemate Publishing, 2014.