WWII Soldier PFC Basil M. Cook Accounted For After Eight Decades
Released photo of PFC Basil M. Cook.
U.S. Army Private First Class Basil M. Cook, who lost his life in World War II, has been identified after nearly 80 years, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) recently announced. PFC Cook, whose remains were previously unknown, is finally coming home.
Born in 1913 in Bertha, West Virginia, Basil Cook grew up with four sisters and one brother. Before answering the call to serve his country, Cook married Ila Ruth Cook and worked at the Hercules Powder Company in Radford, Virginia. At the age of 29, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 9, 1943, ready to do his part in the fight for freedom.
Cook underwent his military training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, before being shipped overseas on July 30, 1944, to join the fight in Europe. Upon arrival, he was assigned to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division. As an M4 Sherman tank driver, PFC Cook played a critical role in one of the most formidable divisions in the European theater.
In November 1944, Cook’s unit was engaged in intense combat with German forces near Hucheln, Germany. It was during this fierce battle that PFC Cook’s tank struck a mine, resulting in a devastating explosion that likely claimed his life instantly. However, in the chaos of battle, his remains could not be immediately recovered or identified.
In August 1945, nearly a year after Cook’s death, remains were discovered and buried as “Unknown X-1239” at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands. Decades later, DPAA historians, through meticulous research, found records indicating that these remains were recovered from a burned-out tank northeast of Hucheln. This clue suggested that they could belong to PFC Cook.
In July 2022, the remains were exhumed and transferred to the DPAA laboratory for further analysis. Using advanced scientific and anthropological techniques, including DNA testing, they confirmed that the remains were indeed those of PFC Basil M. Cook.
Today, Cook’s name is engraved on the Walls of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery. In a solemn gesture, a rosette will be placed next to his name to signify that he has been accounted for and is no longer among the missing.
PFC Basil M. Cook will soon be laid to rest with full military honors in Hinton, West Virginia. While the exact date is yet to be determined, his return is a powerful reminder of our nation’s unwavering commitment to bringing home every fallen hero.
We honor PFC Cook’s sacrifice and remember the countless soldiers who, like him, gave everything in the name of freedom. His story is one of courage, duty, and an enduring legacy that will never be forgotten.