Congressman honors WWII hero from HS
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-District 4, of Hot Springs, paid tribute on the House floor Thursday to a World War II hero from Hot Springs who died saving the life of a crewmate in
1945, as the survivor watched his speech from the gallery.
Sgt. Jack Coleman Cook gave his life in order to save the crewmate, Navigator Edward Field, of New York, who is now
93 years old, after their plane went down in the frigid North Sea following a bombing raid over Berlin on Feb. 3, 1945, Westerman’s office said in a news release.
Field watched from the House gallery as Westerman honored Cook, the release said. Both were members of the 384th Bomb Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Cook was a newlywed at the time of his death and had no children. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Hot Springs. His wife, Lucille Hutzell Cook Harmon, died March 25, 2011, in Beebe after remarrying, the release said.
Earlier Thursday, a spokesman said the congressman’s office was unable to locate any relatives of Jack Coleman Cook prior to Thursday’s speech.
The following is the full text of Westerman’s speech, as delivered Thursday:
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sgt. Jack Coleman Cook of Hot Springs, Ark., for his heroic actions in World War II.
“Sgt. Cook was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress, named the ‘Challenger.’
“On Feb. 3, 1945, the 384th Bomb Group participated in a mission over Berlin.
“During the mission, the ‘Challenger’
was hit by flak, damaging multiple engines, gas tanks, and the fuselage, but left the crew unharmed.
“On the return journey home, the plane began losing altitude and crash-landed in the frigid North Sea. The crew members abandoned the aircraft and boarded two life rafts, but became separated.
“Navigator Edward Field, a crew member who stayed in the water, began to push his raft toward the other raft, but became numb, and said that he could no longer hold on.
“Sgt. Cook got into the water so the crew’s navigator could get out of the cold sea and take his spot in the raft. The sergeant then swam for 45 minutes until they reached the second raft.
“Shortly afterward, Air-Sea rescue located the crew, but Sgt. Cook had little life left in him, and he passed away on the boat.
“It is with great gratitude and respect that I honor Jack Coleman Cook. Sgt. Cook is a true American hero. He selflessly gave his life for his fellow man, and for this, we remember him more than seventy years later.”