Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Newspapers.....Cook, Eugene L., 1962 

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"Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 40, No. 140, Wed., June 13, 1962, pp. 1 & 7 

Anniversary Falls Today 

Cook Recalls Pork Chop Hill 

BY BILL TRASK 

  As hills go, it isn't much of one. 

  Korea is a land of rugged ridges and hills and, for a while, this one was 
known simply as Hill 191, but before the Korean conflict was ended it was to 
achieve more enduring fame. 

  Ten years ago today, Hill 191, "The Pork Chop," was retaken by the American 
army for the last time after changing hands numerous times at the expense of 
countless Chinese and American lives. 

  It was also ten years ago today that Corporal, now Master Sergeant Eugene 
Cook won his Silver Star in that final sweep up Pork Chop Hill. 

  Cook, who today today is First Sergeant for I Company, 2nd Battalion, 80th 
Regiment of the 80th Division, the ready reserve unit headquartered in 
Suffolk, was then a six-month veteran of fighting in Korea. 

  On that June 13 in 1952, the Southampton County native, who was not quite 
20, found himself acting platoon sergeant in a unit that was decimated by 
bitter fighting in the vicinity of the Pork Chop. 

  When the time came for the one last charge that would sweep the Chinese from 
the hill for good, some of the units in Cook's sector found themselves with 
heavy going.  The Pork Chop was dotted with Chinese bunkers all the way to the 
top.  At the peak was one last bunker that went all the way around. 

  According to the citation awarding him the Silver Star, Cook's platoon found 
itself under heavy mortar, artillery, and small arms fire from the bunkers. 

  Cook selected four veterans from the platoon and armed himself with as many 
hand grenades as he could carry. 

  "He assaulted bunker after bunker, hurling grenades inside and destroying 
the positions and their occupants," the citation said. 

  Twice on the way up, Cook had to return to the bottom to replenish his 
grenade supply. 

  By the time he reached the top, the citation said, his supply gave out for 
the third time and instead of returning for more, Cook scooped up Chinese 
grenades and rolled them into the bunker from the top. 

  With the situation becoming intolerable for the defenders, Chinese emerged 
from the bunker and began firing at Cook and his men with machine guns. 

  Once while under machine gun fire, Cook grabbed a faulty Chinese grenade and 
found that he could not pull the pin.  He solved the problem by clipping the 
pin with a pair of wire cutters and eliminated another machine gun. 

  It wasn't too much later that the hill was taken.  Within a few days, Cook 
was promoted to sergeant. 

  Now, after ten years and several more promotions, Cook is the top noncom of 
an award-winning unit.  Recently his company was given the army's superior 
unit citation. 

  Two years after returning from Korea, Cook was married and today he is the 
father of two children.  He and his family reside in Sedley and he is employed 
by Union Bag-Camp in Franklin. 

  Although he is now a family man, Cook was saying this week, he doesn't think 
it would change his reactions if he were faced with a similar situation 
tomorrow. 

  It was just a matter of a job to be done, he said. 

  "There were a lot of new men in the platoon," Cook said, "and when the 
mortar shells began landing, they weren't quite sure what to do." 

  But when he and the other four men started up the hill, the newcomers began 
to take hold also, Cook said. 

  Cook never once during the episode found himself concerned about the chances 
of being killed, he said. 

  Not only was he too busy to think about it.  He also had a fleeting feeling 
at the outset that everything was going to turn out all right.

[photo, captioned:] 
Reservist Eugene Cook Now Master Sergeant 


CPL Eugene Linwood COOK, 
earned Silver Star 13 Jun 1952, Pork Chop Hill, Korea, 
b. 22 Oct 1931, Ivor, Southampton Co., d. 7 May 2012, 
interred in Black Creek Baptist Church Cemetery*, 10 May 2012 

*Additional information: 

Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, 
   Black Creek list (BC-10): 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/blkcrk.txt 

A personal photo & photos of his gravestones - all added by Martha Fontaine 
   Byrum - are posted with Find a Grave Memorial #192442746, as is the text 
   of his Wright Funeral Home obit.  His military gravestone shows the rank 
   of 1st SGT. 

His obit is also posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/c200e3ob.txt 

His parents, Linwood "Pat" & Annie Mae (RAIFORD) COOK, are buried in 
   Tucker Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery. 
   SCHS Cemetery Project, Tucker Swamp list (TS-14): 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/tckrswp.txt 

His mother's obit ("Tidewater News," Mar. 29, 1935) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/c200a1ob.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/news/19620613nh.txt