Lawrenceburg Native, WWII Hero Celebrates 100th Birthday

It is Tom Cook Day in Lawrenceburg.

Congresswoman Erin Houchin with the birthday boy, Tom Cook. Photo by Travis Thayer, Eagle Country 99.3.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Community members gathered on Thursday afternoon to wish Tom Cook a Happy 100th Birthday. 

The World War II Veteran was celebrated at the American Legion Post 239 in Lawrenceburg. 

Cook was joined by fellow World War II Veterans George Klopp and Clarence Cook. They make up half of the living WWII Veterans from Dearborn County. George Shelby, George Lingg, and JC Lewis were unable to attend. 

Those in attendance included a number of area Veterans, local city officials, media, and community members. Congresswoman Erin Houchin was also on hand to speak, sing Happy Birthday, and light birthday candles for Tom. 

Houchin made the trip not from Washington DC but from Washington County, Indiana, where she resides. 

"I'd much rather spend time in Washington County or Dearborn County than in Washington DC," said Houchin. "I think we built our country from these communities to Washington DC and not the other way around. It's we the people, a government of the people by the people for the people, and critical to that structure are our veterans who have fought and died for our freedom, and we can't thank you enough for that." 

Cook, a Lawrenceburg native, entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the European Theater with the 103rd Infantry Division in England, France, and Germany before he was discharged in 1945.

During his military career, Cook was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze stars for the Rhineland and Ardennes-Alsace Campaigns, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Expert Infantryman’s Badge.

In honor of his 100th birthday, Lawrenceburg Mayor Kelly Mollaun, who was unable to attend, sent a proclamation making today Tom Cook Day in Lawrenceburg. 

The proclamation was read by PG Gentrup, which included this portion, "I Kelly Molluan, Mayor of the City of Lawrenceburg hereby proclaim May 30th, 2024, as Tom Cook Day, and encourage all citizens to recognized Tom as a true American hero, American patriot, and the nicest man you will ever meet."

"What an honor it is to be here today," said Gentrup. "How often do you get to be in the presence of three true American heroes, World War II veterans. They not only saved the United States of America, but they saved the whole world, and I tip my hat to them. Because of you and people like you, we get to live the American dream." 

Congresswoman Houchin expressed a similar sentiment, saying "Thank you all for your service to the United States of America. You have kept the beacon of freedom alive for the rest of the world to see. Future generations may not know your sacrifice, so it is up to us to know that they do."