Gilbert R. Cook
Encyclopedia
Gilbert R. Cook was a United States Army
general. He had a thirty-six year military career in the United States Army
. He served in World War I
in France and Germany, commanded the 21st Infantry during the Pearl Harbor
attack, and commanded infantry troops in France during World War II
.
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
at West Point in 1912 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry.
He served on the Mexican Border
in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas from 1912 to 1915. He married Doris Frederick on September 2, 1914 at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. In 1914, he served in the Panama Canal Zone and the Philippine Islands, then returned to the W.R. General Hospital in October 1915 from Panama. In June 1916 he reported to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana for duty in mustering the National Guard for border patrol duty, and in July 1917, went to Jefferson barracks, Missouri for duty in recruiting.
, Georgia from October 1919 to July 1921, when he returned to Germany for duty with the 8th Infantry at Coblenz until March 1923. Upon his return, he served at Fort Screven, Georgia and Fort McPherson, Georgia until August 1924. He entered the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and finished in June, 1925 as a “distinguished graduate”. He then went to Georgia School of Technology as Professor of Military Science and Tactics, and served there until July 1926. He then returned to Fort Benning, Georgia as an instructor in the Infantry School through 1930. In September of that year, he entered the Tank School at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and was graduated in June, 1931. He then entered the Army War College in Washington, D.C. and was graduated in June 1932. He next was assigned to the 12th Infantry at Fort Washington, Maryland, until September 1932, when he joined the War Department General Staff in Washington D.C. for duty in the Operations and Training Division, G-3. He became Commanding Officer of Fort Washington, Maryland, in September 1936. In September, 1938 he was appointed Chief of Attack Section and later Chief of Command Section at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served there until 1941.
in the Pearl Harbor attack, for which he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. In April 1942, he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division as Assistant Division Commander.
In June 1942 he was designated as Commanding General of the 104th Infantry Division and returned to the mainland. Cook was promoted to Major General and reported with the divisional cadre to Camp Adair
, Oregon, in August 1942. The division was activated in December 1942. He conducted the training of this division through its Army maneuver series.
In October 1943, he was appointed Commanding General, XII Corps
at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and conducted its training in the Tennessee maneuver area and Camp Forrest, Tennessee. He accompanied the Corps Headquarters in its move to England, where the corps was assigned to the Third Army, with Cook serving as Deputy Commander of 3rd Army (1943–44). He was in the Normandy and Northern France campaigns, and received the Distinguished Service Medal
, Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre
for his services. He was cited for the Distinguished Service Medal due to the capture of Châteaudun and Orléans.
His role as a field commander was cut short in August 1944, shortly after the Third Army's breakout
in France, when he was hospitalized for illness due to circulation problems in his legs. As one of General Patton's biographers later wrote, "to have to deprive (Cook) of his command at the very climax of his career shook Patton to the core, realising as he did the mortal blow he was delivering to his old friend." It prompted Patton to request General Dwight D. Eisenhower
to award Cook the Distinguished Service Medal. Cook returned to the states for recuperation and less strenuous duty.
Between 1944 and 1949 he was involved in a number of boards, groups, and studies. He was a member of the Army’s Equipment Review Board in 1945. He was a member of the Chief of Staff’s Advisory Group (1946–1948), the Army Ground Force Postwar Planning Group, and the Haislip Review Board which studied such subjects as military organization, mobilization, universal military training, and training. Cook was called out of retirement to critique major war games in 1948 and 1955.
Cook died in La Jolla, California, in 1963, and is buried alongside his wife, Doris, in Arlington National Cemetery
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
general. He had a thirty-six year military career in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in France and Germany, commanded the 21st Infantry during the Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
attack, and commanded infantry troops in France during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early career
Cook was born in Texarkana, ArkansasTexarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point in 1912 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry.
He served on the Mexican Border
Border War (1910–1918)
The Border War, or the Border Campaign, refers to the military engagements which took place in the Mexican-American border region of North America during the Mexican Revolution. The Bandit War in Texas was part of the Border War...
in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas from 1912 to 1915. He married Doris Frederick on September 2, 1914 at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. In 1914, he served in the Panama Canal Zone and the Philippine Islands, then returned to the W.R. General Hospital in October 1915 from Panama. In June 1916 he reported to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana for duty in mustering the National Guard for border patrol duty, and in July 1917, went to Jefferson barracks, Missouri for duty in recruiting.
World War I
In April, 1918, he joined the 58th Infantry and went to France with that regiment in May 1918. He served at St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Aisne-Marne, Vesle River and Marne-Ourcq engagements. He received the Silver Star with Oak-Leaf Cluster and the Croix de Guerre for bravery. He returned to the States in August 1919, after serving with the 58th Infantry in the American Forces in Germany.Between the Wars
He taught at the United States Army Infantry School at Fort BenningFort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia from October 1919 to July 1921, when he returned to Germany for duty with the 8th Infantry at Coblenz until March 1923. Upon his return, he served at Fort Screven, Georgia and Fort McPherson, Georgia until August 1924. He entered the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and finished in June, 1925 as a “distinguished graduate”. He then went to Georgia School of Technology as Professor of Military Science and Tactics, and served there until July 1926. He then returned to Fort Benning, Georgia as an instructor in the Infantry School through 1930. In September of that year, he entered the Tank School at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and was graduated in June, 1931. He then entered the Army War College in Washington, D.C. and was graduated in June 1932. He next was assigned to the 12th Infantry at Fort Washington, Maryland, until September 1932, when he joined the War Department General Staff in Washington D.C. for duty in the Operations and Training Division, G-3. He became Commanding Officer of Fort Washington, Maryland, in September 1936. In September, 1938 he was appointed Chief of Attack Section and later Chief of Command Section at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served there until 1941.
World War II
In April 1941 Cook went to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, as Commanding Officer of the 21st Infantry. He commanded the 21st Infantry Regiment21st Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 21st Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-Lineage:*Constituted 3 May 1861 in the Regular Army as the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry*Organized 20 May 1862 at Fort Hamilton, New York...
in the Pearl Harbor attack, for which he was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge. In April 1942, he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division as Assistant Division Commander.
In June 1942 he was designated as Commanding General of the 104th Infantry Division and returned to the mainland. Cook was promoted to Major General and reported with the divisional cadre to Camp Adair
Camp Adair
Camp Adair was a United States Army division training facility established north of Corvallis, Oregon, operating from 1942 to 1946. Part of the site is now contained within the E. E...
, Oregon, in August 1942. The division was activated in December 1942. He conducted the training of this division through its Army maneuver series.
In October 1943, he was appointed Commanding General, XII Corps
XII Corps
List of military corps—List of military corps by numberA number of countries have Twelfth, or XII, Corps:*XII Corps *XII Corps *XII Corps *XII Corps *XII Corps...
at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and conducted its training in the Tennessee maneuver area and Camp Forrest, Tennessee. He accompanied the Corps Headquarters in its move to England, where the corps was assigned to the Third Army, with Cook serving as Deputy Commander of 3rd Army (1943–44). He was in the Normandy and Northern France campaigns, and received the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
for his services. He was cited for the Distinguished Service Medal due to the capture of Châteaudun and Orléans.
His role as a field commander was cut short in August 1944, shortly after the Third Army's breakout
Operation Cobra
Operation Cobra was the codename for an offensive launched by the First United States Army seven weeks after the D-Day landings, during the Normandy Campaign of World War II...
in France, when he was hospitalized for illness due to circulation problems in his legs. As one of General Patton's biographers later wrote, "to have to deprive (Cook) of his command at the very climax of his career shook Patton to the core, realising as he did the mortal blow he was delivering to his old friend." It prompted Patton to request General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
to award Cook the Distinguished Service Medal. Cook returned to the states for recuperation and less strenuous duty.
Between 1944 and 1949 he was involved in a number of boards, groups, and studies. He was a member of the Army’s Equipment Review Board in 1945. He was a member of the Chief of Staff’s Advisory Group (1946–1948), the Army Ground Force Postwar Planning Group, and the Haislip Review Board which studied such subjects as military organization, mobilization, universal military training, and training. Cook was called out of retirement to critique major war games in 1948 and 1955.
Cook died in La Jolla, California, in 1963, and is buried alongside his wife, Doris, in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.