COOK, George "Wallace" - 1918
GEORGE "WALLACE" COOK
Source: Darlington Herald newspaper Nov 15, 1918
Memorial services for Wallace Cook will be held at the ME Church Sunday evening at 7 o'clock in charge of Rev. JB Johnson. For that reason, services at Potato Creek will be held Sunday morning.
Source: Darlington Herald December 25, 1918
The stern realities of war and the supreme sacrifice that so many boys are making, was again brought home to this community when it became known that Wallace Cook, another Darlington boy had give up his life in the service. The information was contained in the following letters received Monday morning by his sister, Mrs. Burgia Blanton, from the Brigadier General of the 34th Division and the Colonel of the 109th Engineers of which Wallace was a member.
Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 21 .October 1918 p 1
Darlington Oct 21 – Mrs. Merrill Blanton received a letter from the war department this morning stating that her brother, Wallace Cook, had died from pneumonia in France, having contracted the disease on the way over. His death occurred while the boat was in port. Last spring he was sent from France to a hospital in Baltimore and was furloughed home for 14 days. He first went to France in the Rainbow Division, joining that section from Co C while at Jeffersonville. Lincoln Cook, father of the boy, lives in Crawfordsville. Cook was about 24 years old and had lived in Darlington all his life. He is the second Darlington boy to die in France.
Source: --Headquarters 34th Division at Sea Sept 28, 1918 -- Mrs. Burgia Blanton, Crawfordsville, Ind.
My Dear Mrs. Blanton. From official records I learn that you are a sister of Wallace G. Cook a member of the 109th Regiment of Engineers in this Division and who died at 7 o'clock AM today. He has as truly given his life for his country as though he had been killed in battle. In your great sorrow there must be real comfort in knowing that your brother was a good soldier and he gave his life in the line of duty, in loyalty to the noble principles that have made our country glorious and worthy of the greatest sacrifices. In the name of the 34th Division in which your brother faithfully served and as its Commanding General, I offer deep sympathy and condolence. Sincerely, John A. Johnson Brigadier General USA.
Source: --Headquarters 109th Regiment Engineers At Sea - Sept 28, 1918
Miss Burgia Blanton, Crawfordsville, Ind -- My Dear Mrs. Blanton,
I am deeply sorry to be obliged to confirm the notice of the death of your brother, Wallace G. Cook, Co. B who died at sea of pneumonia at 7 o'clock a.m. September 28, 1918. He was taken ill on shipboard and suffered but a few days, and all that was possible was done for him. During his brief illness he bravely maintained that uncomplaining and cheerful spirit of a good soldier which has characterized his entire services in the regiment. Due to circumstances over which we had no control, it was necessary to bury his body at sea, the services being conducted with full military honor and naval courtesy. The exact latitude and longitude has been recorded and may be obtained after the war from the British Admirality, London, our voyage having been made in an English ship. The Officers and men of his Regiment offer their sympathy in your hour of sadness and I assure you that the sacrifice made by your brother, their comrade in arms, will have a place of permanence in their remembrance. His name is on the honor roll of his Regiment. With sincere sympathy, Yours very truly, Frederick B. Downing, Col. 109th Engrs.
Source: Crawfordsville Journal-Review Oct 26, 1918 p 1
Cut from Darlington Herald
Pvt Wallace G. Cook for naval courtesy =- the exact latitude and longitude has been recorded and may be obtained after the war from the British Admiralty, London our voyage having been made in an English whip. (sic) The officers and men of his regiment offer their sympathy in your hour of sadness and I assure you that the sacrifice made by your brother, their comrade in arms, will have a place of permanence in their remembrance. His name is on the honor roll of his regiment - with sincere sympathy, yours very truly, Frederick B. Downing, Col. 109th Engineers Wallace G. Cook was born north of Darlington, June 12, 1893 and was the oldest son of Lincoln and Alice Cook. All his life previous to his enlistment in the army was spent in Darlington and this vicinity. When the US entered the war he and his brother, Melvin enlisted June 17, 1917 in Company C at Crawfordsville and with a number of other Darlington boys was for a time at Gary and Jeffersonville. He was later transferred to the 150th Field Artillery and was in training at Ft. Harrison and Camp Mills, NY. Private Cook sailed for France with the Rainbow Division late last fall. Shortly after his arrival in France, he was taken to a hospital for an operation. Recovering from this, he rejoined his company and went to the battlefront. While there sleeping in a dugout he contracted a severe case of tonsillitis. This later developed into complications which sent him to a base hospital and finally back to the US. He spent fie weeks in a hospital in Baltimore and recovered sufficiently to be allowed to come home on a 14 days furlough, arriving here Tuesday June 27. The following Sunday a reception was held at the gymnasium to welcome him back home and to show the appreciation of the service he had rendered. Between 6 and 700 people attended and hear Pvt. Cook speak for nearly an hour of his experiences in France. After spending 12 days here he returned to Baltimore. His devotion to the cause of justice can not be more plainly shown that by his determination to again join the ranks and return to France. He was ready and anxious to reenter the conflict and after his return to Baltimore tried for enlistment in 7 different branches of the service before he finally was accepted by the 109th Engineers. He is survived by his father who resides at Crawfordsville; two sisters, Mrs. Laura Butcher of San Francisco; and Mrs. Burgia Blanton of near Darlington and one brother, Melvin of San Francisco who was honorable discharged from the Army on account of ill health. His mother died in 1890 and his sister, Stella the following year. An appropriate memorial service will be held for Pvt Cook as soon as the ban on public gatherings is lifted. -- kbz Source: Crawfordsville Journal-Review Oct 26, 1918 p 1 George Burke died at the home of BF Stout corner of Lafayette and Covington Avenues, Friday evening at 6 o'clock from influenza-pneumonia. The death terminated a short illness of 10 days originating from influenza and developing into pneumonia. Mr. Burke was born in this city in 1897 and has lived here all of his life excepting a year during which time he worked in Indianapolis. He married Miss Edith Mitchell of Indianapolis three months ago. He clerked in the store of BF Stout for a number of years. He is survived by his wife, mother now Mrs. Julia Jones, one sister, Mrs. Davis of this city; step brother, Jeffrey Jones, and a step sister, Rebecca Jones of this city. -- kbz
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Wallace Cook was born near Darlington in 1893 and was the son of Lincoln and Alice Cook. All his life, previous to his enlistment in the army was spent in Darlington and this vicinity. When the US entered the war, he and his brother Melvin enlisted in Co C at Crawfordsville and with a number of other Darlington boys, was for a time at Gary, and Jeffersonville. He was later transferred to the 150th Field Artillery and was in training at Ft. Harrison and Camp Mills. Private Cook sailed for France with the Rainbow Division last summer. Shortly after his arrival in France, he was taken to a hospital for an operation. Recovering from this, he rejoined his company and went to the battle front. While there, sleeping in a dug-out, he contracted a severe case of tonsilitis. This later developed into complications which sent him to a base hospital and finally back to the US. He spent five weeks in a hospital in Baltimore and recovered sufficiently to be allowed to come home on a short visit, arriving here Thursday June 27. The following Sunday a reception was held at the gymnasium to welcome him back home and to show the appreciation of the service he has rendered. Between six and seven hundred people attended and hear Pvt. Cook speak for nearly an hour of his experiences in France. After spending 10 days here he returned to Baltimore. His devotion to the cause of justice can not be more plainly shown than by his determination to again join the ranks and return to France. He was ready and anxious to reenter the conflict and after his return to Baltimore tried for enlistment in 7 different branches of the service before he finally was acept by the 109th Engineers. He is survived by his father who resides at Crawfordsville; two sisters, Mrs. Laura Butcher of San Francisco and Mrs. Burgia Blanton of near Darlington and one brother Melvin of San Francisco, who was honorable discharged from the army on account of ill health. His mother died in 1899 and his sister Stella the following year. An appreciation memorial service will be held for Pvt Cook as soon as the ban on public gatherings is lifted.