Sergeant John Henry Cook, a soldier in the U.S. Army, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on April 9, 1864 at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 119th Illinois Infantry. Cook was 23 years old.
The medal was presented on September 19, 1890, 26 years after the action.
Cook was born on July 19, 1840 in London — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. Cook died on July 22, 1916, at the age of 76. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.
Cook is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 210 credited to Illinois.
Official Medal of Honor citation
During an attack by the enemy, voluntarily left the brigade quartermaster, with whom he had been detailed as a clerk, rejoined his command, and, acting as first lieutenant, led the line farther toward the charging enemy.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Illinois →
Timeline
- July 19, 1840Born in London
- April 9, 1864Act of valor — Pleasant Hill, LouisianaAge 23. Company A, 119th Illinois Infantry
- September 19, 1890Medal of Honor presented
- July 22, 1916DiedAge 76.
- Resting placeWoodlawn CemeteryBronx, New York
Biography
John Henry Cook (July 19, 1840 to July 22, 1916) was an English soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Cook received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action at Pleasant Hill in Louisiana on 9 April 1864. He was honored with the award on 19 September 1890.
From the Wikipedia article “John H. Cook”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
