Presentation Date: February 23, 2012
Captain G. Steve Cooper, US Army
Awarded POW Medal, Bronze Star Medal, American Defense Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with two campaign stars, Purple Heart, American Victory Medal, and Combat Infantryman's Badge.
Born June 1916 (95 years old) in Cooperstown, NY and attended school there.
Entered Eastern Illinois Teachers’ College in 1935 and completed two years there.
Attended Civilian Military Training Camp (CMTC) in Plattsburg, PA.
After taking correspondence courses, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry two years later and assigned to the 44th Division at Fort Dix, NJ.
The 44th deployed to Camp Claybourne, LA for the Louisiana Maneuvers. After the maneuvers, the unit was camping on the Gettysburg Civil War battleground when the US declared war on Japan. The 44th was placed on alert.
From Fort Lewis, WA, he was sent to Fort Benning, GA to Communication School and returned to the 44th as Regimental Communications Officer.
He applied for another transfer and was sent to Heavy Weapons school where he trained in mortars and bazookas.
After his promotion to First Lieutenant, he became Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, Companies F and L.
- Deployed with 114th Infantry Regiment (part of 44th Infantry Division) arriving Cherbourg, France in September 1944.
- Fought in two campaigns and was wounded on November 25, 1944 in Schalbeck, France. He was treated and returned to the line.
- Taken prisoner by Germans on January 6, 1945 northeast of Gros-Rederching, France, and sent to Oflag (Officers’ Lager) 13C in Hammelburg, Germany. Treatment as a POW was OK.
- Liberated on April 6, 1945 by the 14th Armored Division after it fought its way into the camp.
- Immediately attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and graduated with a degree in Agriculture in 1948.
- Worked for more than ten years for Safeway in the poultry and egg division. At age 50, he decided to go into real estate.
Steve lives in Fremont, has attended many reunions of his regiment and division, and hopes to attend another this summer. He maintains contact with his jeep driver, Dick Stapleton, whom Gil Ferrey met in Portland in mid-February.
Awarded POW Medal, Bronze Star Medal, American Defense Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Medal with two campaign stars, Purple Heart, American Victory Medal, and Combat Infantryman's Badge.
Born June 1916 (95 years old) in Cooperstown, NY and attended school there. Entered Eastern Illinois Teachers’ College in 1935 and completed two years there.
Attended Civilian Military Training Camp (CMTC) in Plattsburg, PA. After taking correspondence courses, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry two years later and assigned to the 44th Division at Fort Dix, NJ.
The 44th deployed to Camp Claybourne, LA for the Louisiana Maneuvers. After the maneuvers, the unit was camping on the Gettysburg Civil War battleground when the US declared war on Japan. The 44th was placed on alert.
From Fort Lewis, WA, he was sent to Fort Benning, GA to Communication School and returned to the 44th as Regimental Communications Officer.
He applied for another transfer and was sent to Heavy Weapons school where he trained in mortars and bazookas.
After his promotion to First Lieutenant, he became Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, Companies F and L.
- Deployed with 114th Infantry Regiment (part of 44th Infantry Division) arriving Cherbourg, France in September 1944.
- Fought in two campaigns and was wounded on November 25, 1944 in Schalbeck, France. He was treated and returned to the line.
- Taken prisoner by Germans on January 6, 1945 northeast of Gros-Rederching, France, and sent to Oflag (Officers’ Lager) 13C in Hammelburg, Germany. Treatment as a POW was OK.
- Liberated on April 6, 1945 by the 14th Armored Division after it fought its way into the camp.
- Immediately attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and graduated with a degree in Agriculture in 1948.
- Worked for more than ten years for Safeway in the poultry and egg division. At age 50, he decided to go into real estate.
Steve lives in Fremont, has attended many reunions of his regiment and division, and hopes to attend another this summer. He maintains contact with his jeep driver, Dick Stapleton, whom Gil Ferrey met in Portland in mid-February.