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438:"The Navy book of distinguished service; an official compendium of the names and citations of the men of the United States Navy, Marine corps, Army and foreign governments who were decorated by the Navy department for extraordinary gallantry and conspicuous service above and beyond the call of duty in the world war"
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Cook was often referred to as a veteran of the
Spanish–American War, but the Spanish–American War officially ended in August 1898 and Cook did not enlist in the Navy until April 1901. Because Cook was a member of the USWV, many assumed that he was a Spanish–American War veteran.
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Cook retired on April 1, 1942, after 40 years in the Navy. He was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant the same day in recognition of his service in the First World War. He once said his Navy life was tough but that it beat living on his
131:, which began shortly after Spain had ceded the Philippines to the United States after losing the Spanish–American War of 1898. The Philippine–American War lasted from 1899 until July 4, 1902 – one year after Cook's enlistment in the Navy.
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in 1901 and they married on
October 29, 1905. Elizabeth died two weeks before what would have been their 77th wedding anniversary in 1982. Cook spent his last years at the residential section of the VA hospital in
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117:. He lied about his age (then 15) in order to join the Navy on April 9, 1901, after he saw a recruiting poster which said, "Join the Navy and See the World." He was assigned to the
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whose naval career continued through the Second World War. When he died at the age of 106 he was the oldest surviving
American war veteran, and the last verified veteran of the
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who had served between 1898 and 1902. Cook was eligible to be a member of the USWV because he had enlisted during the
Philippine–American War.
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was a
Spanish–American War veteran and survived longer). Cook was, however, likely the last surviving veteran of the Philippine–American War.
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After the First World War, Cook was reduced to his permanent rank of
Boatswain and then promoted to Chief Boatswain on January 11, 1919.
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farm. During his naval career, Cook's shipmates nicknamed him "Northeast," derived from his first two initials.
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Cook was promoted on August 15, 1918, to the temporary rank of lieutenant and was given command of the tugboat
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Register of the
Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, January 1, 1917.
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After 12 and a half years of service as an enlisted man, he was appointed to the warrant officer rank of
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Cook's father, William Cook, had died in 1895. His mother Ellen later remarried and the family moved to
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Article from the
Vanguard "The Spanish–American War Veteran," Veterans Administration Nov./Dec. 1988
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and guests watched a video presentation about his life. Cook's younger daughter, Eleanor Kay of
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in
February 1919. The text of his commendation reads: "As Commanding Officer of the U.S.S.
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U.S. veteran of that war at the time of his death in 1992 (although there is a claim that
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Register of
Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps
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he took a conspicuous and creditable part in the operation of salvaging the U.S.S.
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which served as a transport between the United States and South America.
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When Cook turned 104, he received a congratulatory letter from
218:. As of November 1, 1940 he was the executive officer of the
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84:(October 10, 1885 – September 10, 1992) was a sailor in the
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American military personnel of the Philippine–American War
490:"Nathan E. Cook, 106; America's Oldest Known War Veteran"
285:(USWV). The USWV was an organization of veterans of the
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American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
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Oldest known U.S. veteran, Nathan E. Cook, dies at 106
529:. September 11, 1992. Accessed from October 28, 2012.
277:(1885–1992) and his wife Elizabeth Cook (1887–1982).
564:American military personnel of the Boxer Rebellion
257:, Arizona and was buried beside his wife at the
331:(Later changed to the Navy Commendation Medal.)
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599:United States Navy personnel of World War II
248:Cook met his wife, Elizabeth (1887–1982) in
594:United States Navy personnel of World War I
535:. lcweb2.loc.gov Accessed from May 7, 2013.
16:Philippine–American War veteran (1885–1992)
377:Last surviving United States war veterans
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
32:This article includes a list of general
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281:Cook was the last living member of the
210:, Cook was stationed at Port-au-Prince
300:Cook was mistakenly recognized as the
109:Cook was born on October 10, 1885, in
259:National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
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38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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589:Military personnel from Michigan
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174:on the 21st of the same month.
355:American Defense Service Medal
185:for his role in salvaging the
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515:Interview with Nathan E. Cook
350:First World War Victory Medal
134:Cook also saw service in the
428:Navy Register, 1919. p. 100.
365:World War Two Victory Medal
283:United Spanish War Veterans
138:and clashes along the U.S.–
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559:United States Navy sailors
464:, November 1, 1940. p. 41.
579:American men centenarians
335:Philippine Campaign Medal
206:During the early days of
329:Navy Commendation Ribbon
452:, July 1, 1941. p. 340.
360:American Campaign Medal
291:Philippine–American War
129:Philippine–American War
90:Philippine–American War
53:more precise citations.
400:Military Hall of Honor
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179:letter of commendation
345:Mexican Service Medal
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243:Kansas City, Missouri
183:Secretary of the Navy
160:that sank two German
149:on January 11, 1913.
127:He served during the
502:. September 12, 1992
500:The Associated Press
340:China Campaign Medal
287:Spanish–American War
396:"LT Nathan E. Cook"
584:Burials in Arizona
474:U.S. Navy Register
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275:Nathan Edward Cook
86:United States Navy
82:Nathan Edward Cook
526:Houston Chronicle
495:Los Angeles Times
313:George H. W. Bush
302:longest surviving
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554:1992 deaths
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405:21 February
152:During the
88:during the
51:introducing
543:Categories
383:References
222:Mormacyork
59:April 2020
34:references
181:from the
147:boatswain
121:Pensacola
100:Biography
371:See also
289:and the
250:New York
231:Missouri
194:Favorite
171:Favorite
142:border.
517:. 1989.
476:, 1947.
440:p. 189.
255:Phoenix
214:and in
162:U-boats
47:improve
323:Awards
265:Legacy
216:Panama
140:Mexico
115:Kansas
36:, but
212:Haiti
508:2012
407:2021
187:USS
169:USS
119:USS
220:SS
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