Howard Cooper, Jr.
"Junior"
Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 444768
April 26, 1923
in Mahan, WV
John Howard Cooper (d. 1928)
Carrie Victoria (Spurlock) Cooper (d. 1942)
DuPont High School (1941)
Machinist
New Departure Manufacturing Co.
in Bristol, CT
August 24, 1942
at Charleston, WV
October 25, 1942
from Training Camp New River
October 27, 1945
to USNTC Bainbridge, MD
November 6, 1945
Honorably discharged
General Delivery, Rand, WV – address of sister, Mrs. Doris Cooper Caldwell
Service & Campaigns
Enlisted with and served beside older brother Carl Edward Cooper.
Boot camp at Parris Island; outposted to Training Center New River, North Carolina. Assigned to First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) on 25 October 1942; to Company D on 10 November 1942.
Outfit: D/1/24th Marines (3rd MG Platoon)
Rank: Private
MOS: 605 (Heavy machine gunner)
Important Events:
Slightly wounded in action (cause and exact date unknown); not evacuated.
His brother, PFC Carl E. Cooper, was killed in action on February 2, 1944.
Outfit: C/1/24th Marines (MG Platoon)
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 605 (Heavy machine gunner)
Important Events:
Hospitalized for unknown ailment from July 19-23.
Outfit: C/1/24th Marines (MG Platoon)
Rank:Private First Class
MOS: 605 (Heavy machine gunner)
Outfit: C/1/24th Marines (MG Platoon)
Rank:Private First Class
MOS: 604 (Machine gunner)
Promoted to rank of Corporal on 24 May 1945; appointed machine gun squad leader.
On 27 October, transferred to USNTC Bainbridge, Maryland. Honorably discharged on 6 November 1945.
Cooper was one of only a handful of original Battalion members to return to the United States with the unit in October 1945.
Individual Decorations
Medal
Purple Heart
Campaign
Roi-Namur
Citation
