If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Bristol, Florida
Last Address Jacob Elliott Cooper Date of birth: March 20, 1902 Date of death: December 23, 1974 Place of Birth: Bristol, Florida Home of record: Columbus, Georgia
Date of Passing Dec 23, 1974
Location of Interment Oakview Cemetery - Camilla, Georgia
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Rear Admiral Jacob Elliott Cooper
Silver Star
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Captain [then Commander] Jacob Elliott Cooper, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. DRAYTON (DD-366), during action against enemy Japanese Naval Forces in the Battle of Lunga Point, the night of 30 November - 1 December 1942. With his ship the fourth in column of the van destroyers when Japanese surface forces steamed toward Guadalcanal in a last major attempt to reinforce beleaguered enemy troops on the island, Captain Cooper promptly maneuvered for maximum strength to launch his devastating torpedo and gunfire attacks and, despite the enemy's terrific counterfire, contributed to the success of a bitterly fought engagement to drive the hostile force from the area. Proceeding to the aid of the NORTHAMPTON which had been severely damaged during the furious action, he remained in submarine-infested waters in company with another destroyer for a period of more than two and a half hours to assist in the rescue of large numbers of survivors. His superb seamanship, dauntless perseverance and zealous devotion to duty throughout were essential factors in the success of the engagement and subsequent rescue operations and reflect the highest credit upon Captain Cooper and the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 306 (September 1942) Action Date: November 30 - December 1, 1942 Service: Navy Rank: Captain Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. Drayton (DD-366)
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Jacob Elliott Cooper, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. JOHN D. FORD (DD-228), during an offensive engagement with enemy Japanese forces in the Badoeng Straits off the Island of Bali, Netherlands East Indies, on the night of 19 - 20 February 1942. With his vessel illuminated by the enemy, and under heavy gunfire from enemy Japanese cruisers and destroyers, Lieutenant Commander Cooper delivered a vigorous attack with guns and torpedoes, scoring several gun hits and at least two torpedo hits on the opposing forces. Following the attack, he displayed fine seamanship and excellent judgment in extricating the U.S.S. JOHN D. FORD from a situation of grave peril, thereby saving the ship from serious damage. This spirit of determination reflects great credit upon Lieutenant Commander Cooper, his command, and upon the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 308 (November 1942) Action Date: February 19 - 20, 1942 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. John D. Ford (DD-228)
Silver Star, second award
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] Jacob Elliott Cooper, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. JOHN D. FORD (DD-228), during the Battle of the Java Sea, in February 1942, and in offensive daylight action against the Japanese Battle Line of heavy and light cruisers. Courageous and aggressive in the face of severe enemy fire, Commander Cooper fought his ship boldly throughout this hazardous engagement, going in unsupported, as a unit of a Destroyer Division, to deliver a successful torpedo attack in two stages against the Japanese cruisers, forcing them to break off the attack and enabling the Allied ships to regain their battle formation. Commander Cooper's inspiring leadership and the valiant fighting spirit of the officers and men under his command reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 306 (September 1942) Action Date: February 1942 Service: Navy Rank: Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. John D. Ford (DD-228)
Navy Cross, second award
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Jacob Elliott Cooper, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. JOHN D. FORD (DD-228), and for extreme disregard of personal safety, devotion to duty, courage, leadership and alertness in successfully delivering a determined attack with torpedoes and gunfire during action with the enemy. On the night of 24 - 25 January 1942, the PAUL JONES, together with the U.S.S. PAUL JONES (DD-230) and U.S.S. PARROTT (DD-218), delivered an attack upon enemy surface ships off Balikpapan, Borneo, Netherlands East Indies. The composition of the enemy's concentration was known to consist of cruisers, destroyers, and various types of transports and cargo ships. Although sorely outnumbered, the element of surprise was used to compensate for the numerical inequality of forces. By utter disregard of enemy challenges and skillful and precision-like maneuvering, the attacking force was able to so confuse the enemy as to gain admittance to his concentration, sinking and considerably damaging a great part of it by repeated torpedo and gunfire attacks. After remaining in close contact with the enemy for over an hour, and after having expended all torpedoes, an orderly retirement was effected. Lieutenant Commander Cooper's skillful handling of the U.S.S. JOHN D. FORD and the manifestly high morale and state of training of his command reflect most favorably on his ability as a commanding Officer and his qualities as a leader. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 306 (September 1942) Action Date: January 23 - 24, 1942 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Commander Company: Commanding Officer Division: U.S.S. John D. Ford (DD-228)
Other Comments:
USS JOHN D. FORD
Commander Jacob Elliott Cooper
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the
U.S.S. JOHN D. FORD
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
“For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Java Campaign in the Southwest Pacific War Area, from January 23 to March 4, 1942. Gallantly operating in defense of the Netherlands East Indies with the limited surface forces of the combined United States, British and Dutch Royal Navies, the JOHN D. FORD led a column of four destroyers in a fierce night counter-invasion action off Balikpapan, confusing and disorganizing the enemy to aid in the sinking or damaging by by torpedo and gunfire of a number of Japanese warships. A highly vulnerable target for hostile cruiser and destroyer gunfire while fighting as a unit of a joint United States-Dutch Striking Force in the Badoeng Strait action, she responded nobly to the heroic efforts of her officers and men and scored several damaging torpedo and gun hits before effecting a masterly withdrawal from the field of combat. Boldly attacking a numerically superior force by day in the Java Sea action, she was one of six vessels in the combined United States-Dutch-British Combined Striking Force to wage a brilliant torpedo attack against the main body of the Japanese Armada and, hurling the full fighting power of her gun batteries at the hostile disposition, exerted every means at her command to inflict damage on the Japanese and aid her companion ships in forcing the enemy to break off the engagement. Relentlessly trailed by cruiser-borne planes and repeatedly bombed by enemy aircraft, she battled with unconquerable spirit and undiminished fury against strong dispositions vastly superior in numbers and armament during this early critical period of the war. The JOHN D. FORD’S illustrious achievements add new luster to the annals of American Naval Warfare and uphold the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
For the President /s/ James Forrestal Secretary of the Navy
Other foreign awards include from the Netherlands:
Bronzen Kruis (BK), "Bronzen Leeuw" (BL), and "Eervolle Vermelding" (EV).
Rank: Lieutenant Commander J.E. Cooper, U.S.S. John D. Ford (DD-228), U.S. Navy.
Other Memories USS JOHN D. FORD Commander Jacob Elliott Cooper
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the
U.S.S. JOHN D. FORD
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Java Campaign in the Southwest Pacific War Area, from January 23 to March 4, 1942. Gallantly operating in defense of the Netherlands East Indies with the limited surface forces of the combined United States, British and Dutch Royal Navies, the JOHN D. FORD led a column of four destroyers in a fierce night counter-invasion action off Balikpapan, confusing and disorganizing the enemy to aid in the sinking or damaging by by torpedo and gunfire of a number of Japanese warships. A highly vulnerable target for hostile cruiser and destroyer gunfire while fighting as a unit of a joint United States-Dutch Striking Force in the Badoeng Strait action, she responded nobly to the heroic efforts of her officers and men and scored several damaging torpedo and gun hits before effecting a masterly withdrawal from the field of combat. Boldly attacking a numerically superior force by day in the Java Sea action, she was one of six vessels in the combined United States-Dutch-British Combined Striking Force to wage a brilliant torpedo attack against the main body of the Japanese Armada and, hurling the full fighting power of her gun batteries at the hostile disposition, exerted every means at her command to inflict damage on the Japanese and aid her companion ships in forcing the enemy to break off the engagement. Relentlessly trailed by cruiser-borne planes and repeatedly bombed by enemy aircraft, she battled with unconquerable spirit and undiminished fury against strong dispositions vastly superior in numbers and armament during this early critical period of the war. The JOHN D. FORD'S illustrious achievements add new luster to the annals of American Naval Warfare and uphold the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
