World War II vet receives medals 73 years later

World War II veteran Cloyd Cook returned to Poplar Bluff in 1945 after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, but in the haste to bring soldiers home, he never received the medals he earned.

After waiting 73 years, the veteran was finally presented Friday with the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button. The medals were presented by Congressman Jason Smith at VFW Post 6477.

"I had no idea he didn't have his medals," oldest daughter Gail Black said. "He didn't talk about the war when we were growing up. We knew there was a uniform in the closet and that's pretty much all we ever knew."

Once Cook, now 96, began going to the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff for his hearing, Black said her father began opening up about his time in WWII. This also led to him joining the American Legion and VFW organizations.

Black's son, Quentin, was looking over his grandfather's discharge papers several months ago and asked Cook about the medals he earned.

Cook told his grandson he never received his medals.

"It's amazing to me he had these medals and never got them," Black said. "I'm really proud of my son for recognizing that because of his experience in the military."

With permission from his grandfather, Quentin, a veteran himself, contacted Smith's office to set the process in motion.

"I was just righting a wrong," Quentin said.

In a ceremony surrounded by family, friends and fellow veterans, Cook shared stories of basic training, serving in the Battle of the Bulge, his honorable discharge from the Army and was presented with his VFW 20-year pin.

"Our greatest generation answered the call to serve when our country needed them," Smith said. "It breaks my heart to see brave patriotism and service go unrecognized and it's my honor to remind our veterans that the American people appreciate and remember all of their sacrifices and service."

Medical Center Director Dr. Patricia Hall expressed how special it was for any veteran to receive the medals they earned and said she truly appreciated the work from Smith's office to help Cook.

"Our WWII veterans are few and far between so any opportunity we have to celebrate what they did for our country is wonderful," Hall said.

Cook was born in 1922 in Aquila, Missouri, to George and Mary Cook. He moved to Qulin after his mother's passing and attended school until the eighth grade, leaving to work on the family farm. He and his younger brother joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), working until they were no longer eligible.

Cook then volunteered for the Army, but did not meet the requirements. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Cook volunteered once again and was accepted.

He served in eight countries as a member of the 94th Infantry under General George Patton and was honorably discharged in December 1945.

Cook married in 1948 and became a farmer in Butler County, where he and his wife, Opal, raised seven children.

In addition to being a member of the American Legion and VFW, Cook is also a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, where he taught Sunday school for many years and currently has the honor of being the oldest member.