PFC Cooper’s DSC | New Guinea On 11 May 1944, after a hot, humid, almost unbearable two-week voyage across the equator from Hawaii, the 33rd Infantry Division arrived in New Guinea where it received additional training. Living conditions were miserable; hot, humid, daily rain, mud, critters, and mosquitoes carrying malaria. For the whole story with all images, see PFC Cooper’s DSC | a 7 Image Story.
PFC Cooper’s DSC | Distinguished Service Cross
By the direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved 9 July 1918 (Bulletin 43, WD,1918), the Distinguished Service Cross is awarded by the Commander-in-Chief, United States Forces, Pacific, to Private First Class HOWARD E. COOPER, Infantry, United States Army for extraordinary heroism in action near Lawican, Luzon, Philippine Islands, on 12 May 1945. When one platoon of Company C, 136th Infantry, was halted by intense Japanese mortar, machine gun, and sniper fire during an attack against a heavily fortified hill position, five men were left in an exposed area to draw enemy fire and to enable the remainder of the platoon to maneuver to a more favorable location. The enemy increased their fire in a desperate attempt to annihilate this small holding force and, in the confusion, one of the men, Private Cooper, discovered a hidden Japanese machine gun firing from the rear. Unhesitatingly, he fearlessly assaulted this new threat, but was wounded before he reached the position. Heedless of his wound, he continued forward and singlehandedly destroyed the weapon with hand grenades. He then rejoined his comrades, and while drawing enemy fire, was wounded again. When the remainder of the platoon reached a new position and resumed the attack, Private Cooper advanced with them and was wounded a third time. Unable to move any further, he then consented to be moved to the rear for medical treatment. By his dauntless courage and heroic determination to destroy the enemy despite his serious wounds, Private Cooper was instrumental in enabling his platoon to accomplish its mission.
By command of General MacARTHUR:
R.K. SUTHERLAND, Lieutenant General, United States Army, Chief of Staff
B.M. FITCH, Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Adjutant General
For the whole story with all images, see PFC Cooper’s DSC | a 7 Image Story.
PFC Cooper’s DSC | PFC Howard E. Cooper After being released from the hospital and military service in October 1945, Howard came home. This photo was taken shortly after he got home. He looks quite different from the high school boy who left less than three years ago. He received the Purple Heart. Through a some type of oversight, he was not presented with the Bronze Star or the Distinguished Service Cross. They were sent posthumously in 2015 after research by his commanding officer’s son, uncovered the oversight. He was a very modest American hero. For the whole story with all images, see PFC Cooper’s DSC | a 7 Image Story.
PFC Cooper’s DSC | a 7 Image Story PFC Howard E. Cooper was an American hero. Like so many millions of Americans, Howard Cooper joined the Army in WWII to do his duty for God and country. He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division of the US Army. The 136th was sent to the Pacific Theater and was instrumental in the liberation of the Philippine Islands, particularly Northern Luzon.
He entered the Army in December 1942. After training stateside, he was sent to Hawaii for more training. The 3rd Infantry Division, including the 136th Regiment, arrived in Hawaii on July 1943. The division received training in jungle warfare and and amphibious landings. The 136th Regiment, PFC Cooper’s unit, was stationed on the island of Maui. The 136th alternated between island defense and training. After Pearl Harbor, all Hawaiian Island’s were put under martial law as Hawaii became the central base of all Pacific operations. Warlike conditions meant enforced blackouts and strict civilian supervision. Each island had barbed wire as well as numerous other beach obstacles. Naval vessels and aircraft patrolled a wide area around the entire island chain. Still, even the war could not take away the beauty from Haleakala, the world’s largest extinct volcano. The troops including PFC Cooper sometimes enjoyed their time on Maui.
Then, in April 1944, after a hot, humid, almost unbearable two week voyage across the equator from Hawaii, the 33rd Infantry Division arrived in New Guinea where it received additional training and participated in the New Guinea Campaign. Living conditions were miserable; hot, humid, daily rain, mud, critters, and mosquitoes carrying malaria. In December 1944, he went to Moratai Island with the 136th, where he participated in the Moratia Campaign mopping-up a few scattered Japanese forces. Then, 136th began staging operations for the Philippines invasion and a major combat operation in Luzon.
Soundtrack from the movie Pacific; a musical score composed by Hans Zimmer.
Finally, in January 1945, he went to Luzon, Philippines where the 136th participated in the Luzon Campaign to liberate Northern Luzon. He was awarded the Bronze Star on 20 Feb 1945 for meritorious achievement in ground combat in northern Luzon. Then, on 12 May 1945, for extraordinary heroism in action, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the 2nd highest U.S. medal for heroism. Please see his Medals and Presidential Citations. He was badly wounded in that action and was also awarded the Purple Heart. His wounds included machine gun wounds to the chest and lungs, shell fragments in the lung, and mortar shrapnel. He also contracted malaria which came back to afflict him for many years. After being helped from the battlefield by other soldiers, he was first taken to a hospitals in Leyte, Manila, Biak, and then, finally, stateside to Memphis, TN, where he was released in October 1945.
After he was released from the hospital and military service, he received the Purple Heart. Through a some type of oversight, he was not presented with the Bronze Star or the Distinguished Service Cross. They were sent posthumously in 2015 after research by his commanding officer’s son, uncovered the oversight. He was a very modest American hero.
Each image will be posted individually this week under category PFC Cooper’s DSC.
Click any image below for a slide show!
5×7 Dry Plate | Antique Print Antique prints developed from B&W negatives still remain popular. Again, although I developed this print image in my digital darkroom, it can easily be developed in a traditional chemical darkroom. See 5×7 Dry Plate | a 7 Image Story for a description of all the restoration steps taken for this image.
5×7 Dry Plate | Sepia Print Sepia prints developed from B&W negatives remains popular. Again, although I developed this print image in my digital darkroom, it can easily be developed in a traditional chemical darkroom. See 5×7 Dry Plate | a 7 Image Story for a description of all the restoration steps taken for this image.
5×7 Dry Plate | Black & White Print After restoration, it only seem fitting and proper to display a standard black & white print much like a good photographer in the early 1900s would have developed in the darkroom. See 5×7 Dry Plate | a 7 Image Story for a description of all the restoration steps taken for this image.
5×7 Dry Plate | Restored After restoration, a nice 4th of July parade image becomes visible. Of course, the restoration step takes more time and effort than all other steps combined. My restoration objective was to only restore the image to a new condition but not enhance it. Aperture’s brush tools were used to restore the image including: retouch, skin smoothing, dodge, burn, and definition. Also, a crop was necessary to remove large smudges which were not repairable. The restoration process:
The image is still not in a new condition, but it’s much better than is was. Under magnification, small black spots can be seen. See 5×7 Dry Plate | a 7 Image Story for a description of all the restoration steps taken for this image.
