George Maurice Cook was born in January 1, 1914 to Maurice G. and Minnie Cook who lived at 410 Bridge Street in Spring City, Pennsylvania. George was one of two children, including his sister Grace Ellen. His father worked in a local foundry, his sister worked as a machine operator at a textile plant.

George graduated from Spring City High School. He obtained employment at the Interborough Press, furthered his education at the Pierce Business College in Philadelphia. He later worked at the Elliott-Underwood Company, in Philadelphia, one of the leading manufacturers of typewriters.

George joined the Pennsylvania Nation Guard in November 1940, serving with the Company B, 111th Infantry.

In August 1942, he married Jeene E. Stuart, from Pottstown, at the Christ Episcopal Church on 316 East High Street in that city.

The 11th Infantry Regiment was stationed at several places including Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Baltimore Maryland, Fort Monroe, Virginia, then assigned to the Eastern Defense Command in April 1942. George’s Regiment was sent to Camp Pendleton, Virginia for further training, then to Camp Stoneman, California, and San Francisco, to embark to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) in November 1943.

George’s Regiment then participated in the amphibious assault against the Japanese held Kwajalien on D-Day January 31, 1944. Kawajalien is actually an atoll, the worlds largest atoll, comprising a string of one hundred islands forming an irregular shaped lagoon 66 miles long and 20 miles wide.

George became ill and was hospitalized. His illness was life threatening and he was flown from Honolulu to the Tilton General Hospital at Fort Dix, New Jersey in an attempt to save his life, arriving by aircraft on November 30, 1944. He was permitted a brief visit home after his arrival.

Corporal George Maurice Cook Died Non Battle at Fort Dix on Thursday December 7, 1944.

His wife Jeene, received two telegrams simultaneously: one, that her husband was seriously ill, the other that he died.

The funeral service was held on Tuesday December 12th at his parents’ home, at 410 Bridge St. in Spring City.

Interment was at the Mount Zion Cemetery, at 225 E Schuylkill Rd (Rt. 724) in Pottstown.