U.S. Army Pfc. John Pickney Cooper, 44, of Athens, TX went Missing In Action on March 7, 1945, after his M4 Sherman Tank was struck by German forces in Pellingen, Germany. As of June 21, 2022, after 77 years Pfc. Cooper's remains will be brought home and laid to rest at the Fort Smith National Cemetery where his brother, Malvin Ellis Cooper is also buried.
John was born July 30, 1907 in Athens, TX to the late Thomas Jefferson Cooper and Nancy Elma Ott Cooper. His family that included Six brothers and two sisters later moved to Mississippi where his humble and hardworking family had a farm. When not helping with his chores on the farm he loved spending his time fishing and when he was a young adult began his travels to South America and California.
Given the excuse that he was a bit "too old" to serve in the Military he was turned down several times, however he was determined to serve his Country like all of his brothers and was finally accepted and inducted into the Army in 1944. In March of 1945 he was assigned to Company B, 778th Tank Battalion operating in Germany as a crew member of an M4 Sherman Tank. On March 7, 1945, his unit was engaged in the Battle of Lampaden Ridge. It was here after his tank was hit by enemy fire that he was never seen or heard from again. A year later the War Department presumed him dead and in October 1951 was officially declared Non-Recoverable.
Historians from The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) have been studying unresolved American losses for a number of years in the Lampaden area. These remains had been buried in Luxembourg American Cemetery in 1950. To positively identify remains from this site, scientist from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, used multiple forms of analysis, including DNA testing to positively Identify Pfc. Cooper.
Pfc. Cooper's name as well as others missing from World War II is recorded on the Walls of the Missing in Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. His name will now be marked with a rosette indicating that he has been accounted for.
Pvt. John Cooper was preceded in death by His Mother, Nancy Elma Ott Cooper, and one brother Justin Halbert Cooper. Today all of his siblings, Wallace Monroe Cooper, Carner Ward Cooper, Malvin Ellis Cooper, Marvin Canoy Cooper, Mary Adeline Cooper Lee, Justin Halbert Cooper and Willie Coreen "Peggy" Cooper Chesnut are no longer living. Of his 17 nieces and nephews, eight are still living.
The family wish to thank The DPAA, the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Army Regional Mortuary-Europe/Africa, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Commander Jim Bell and Sgt. Robert Farmer for their service in bringing their Uncle John home to rest in peace.
Pvt. Cooper's Graveside Service with full Military Honors will be Friday, October 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Fort Smith National Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
John was born July 30, 1907 in Athens, TX to the late Thomas Jefferson Cooper and Nancy Elma Ott Cooper. His family that included Six brothers and two sisters later moved to Mississippi where his humble and hardworking family had a farm. When not helping with his chores on the farm he loved spending his time fishing and when he was a young adult began his travels to South America and California.
Given the excuse that he was a bit "too old" to serve in the Military he was turned down several times, however he was determined to serve his Country like all of his brothers and was finally accepted and inducted into the Army in 1944. In March of 1945 he was assigned to Company B, 778th Tank Battalion operating in Germany as a crew member of an M4 Sherman Tank. On March 7, 1945, his unit was engaged in the Battle of Lampaden Ridge. It was here after his tank was hit by enemy fire that he was never seen or heard from again. A year later the War Department presumed him dead and in October 1951 was officially declared Non-Recoverable.
Historians from The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) have been studying unresolved American losses for a number of years in the Lampaden area. These remains had been buried in Luxembourg American Cemetery in 1950. To positively identify remains from this site, scientist from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, used multiple forms of analysis, including DNA testing to positively Identify Pfc. Cooper.
Pfc. Cooper's name as well as others missing from World War II is recorded on the Walls of the Missing in Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. His name will now be marked with a rosette indicating that he has been accounted for.
Pvt. John Cooper was preceded in death by His Mother, Nancy Elma Ott Cooper, and one brother Justin Halbert Cooper. Today all of his siblings, Wallace Monroe Cooper, Carner Ward Cooper, Malvin Ellis Cooper, Marvin Canoy Cooper, Mary Adeline Cooper Lee, Justin Halbert Cooper and Willie Coreen "Peggy" Cooper Chesnut are no longer living. Of his 17 nieces and nephews, eight are still living.
The family wish to thank The DPAA, the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Army Regional Mortuary-Europe/Africa, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Commander Jim Bell and Sgt. Robert Farmer for their service in bringing their Uncle John home to rest in peace.
Pvt. Cooper's Graveside Service with full Military Honors will be Friday, October 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Fort Smith National Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
U.S. Army Pfc. John Pickney Cooper, 44, of Athens, TX went Missing In Action on March 7, 1945, after his M4 Sherman Tank was struck by German forces in Pellingen, Germany. As of June 21, 2022, after 77 years Pfc. Cooper's remains will be brought home and laid to rest at the Fort Smith National Cemetery where his brother, Malvin Ellis Cooper is also buried.
John was born July 30, 1907 in Athens, TX to the late Thomas Jefferson Cooper and Nancy Elma Ott Cooper. His family that included Six brothers and two sisters later moved to Mississippi where his humble and hardworking family had a farm. When not helping with his chores on the farm he loved spending his time fishing and when he was a young adult began his travels to South America and California.
Given the excuse that he was a bit "too old" to serve in the Military he was turned down several times, however he was determined to serve his Country like all of his brothers and was finally accepted and inducted into the Army in 1944. In March of 1945 he was assigned to Company B, 778th Tank Battalion operating in Germany as a crew member of an M4 Sherman Tank. On March 7, 1945, his unit was engaged in the Battle of Lampaden Ridge. It was here after his tank was hit by enemy fire that he was never seen or heard from again. A year later the War Department presumed him dead and in October 1951 was officially declared Non-Recoverable.
Historians from The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) have been studying unresolved American losses for a number of years in the Lampaden area. These remains had been buried in Luxembourg American Cemetery in 1950. To positively identify remains from this site, scientist from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, used multiple forms of analysis, including DNA testing to positively Identify Pfc. Cooper.
Pfc. Cooper's name as well as others missing from World War II is recorded on the Walls of the Missing in Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. His name will now be marked with a rosette indicating that he has been accounted for.
Pvt. John Cooper was preceded in death by His Mother, Nancy Elma Ott Cooper, and one brother Justin Halbert Cooper. Today all of his siblings, Wallace Monroe Cooper, Carner Ward Cooper, Malvin Ellis Cooper, Marvin Canoy Cooper, Mary Adeline Cooper Lee, Justin Halbert Cooper and Willie Coreen "Peggy" Cooper Chesnut are no longer living. Of his 17 nieces and nephews, eight are still living.
The family wish to thank The DPAA, the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Army Regional Mortuary-Europe/Africa, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Commander Jim Bell and Sgt. Robert Farmer for their service in bringing their Uncle John home to rest in peace.
Pvt. Cooper's Graveside Service with full Military Honors will be Friday, October 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Fort Smith National Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
John was born July 30, 1907 in Athens, TX to the late Thomas Jefferson Cooper and Nancy Elma Ott Cooper. His family that included Six brothers and two sisters later moved to Mississippi where his humble and hardworking family had a farm. When not helping with his chores on the farm he loved spending his time fishing and when he was a young adult began his travels to South America and California.
Given the excuse that he was a bit "too old" to serve in the Military he was turned down several times, however he was determined to serve his Country like all of his brothers and was finally accepted and inducted into the Army in 1944. In March of 1945 he was assigned to Company B, 778th Tank Battalion operating in Germany as a crew member of an M4 Sherman Tank. On March 7, 1945, his unit was engaged in the Battle of Lampaden Ridge. It was here after his tank was hit by enemy fire that he was never seen or heard from again. A year later the War Department presumed him dead and in October 1951 was officially declared Non-Recoverable.
Historians from The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) have been studying unresolved American losses for a number of years in the Lampaden area. These remains had been buried in Luxembourg American Cemetery in 1950. To positively identify remains from this site, scientist from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, used multiple forms of analysis, including DNA testing to positively Identify Pfc. Cooper.
Pfc. Cooper's name as well as others missing from World War II is recorded on the Walls of the Missing in Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. His name will now be marked with a rosette indicating that he has been accounted for.
Pvt. John Cooper was preceded in death by His Mother, Nancy Elma Ott Cooper, and one brother Justin Halbert Cooper. Today all of his siblings, Wallace Monroe Cooper, Carner Ward Cooper, Malvin Ellis Cooper, Marvin Canoy Cooper, Mary Adeline Cooper Lee, Justin Halbert Cooper and Willie Coreen "Peggy" Cooper Chesnut are no longer living. Of his 17 nieces and nephews, eight are still living.
The family wish to thank The DPAA, the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Army Regional Mortuary-Europe/Africa, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Commander Jim Bell and Sgt. Robert Farmer for their service in bringing their Uncle John home to rest in peace.
Pvt. Cooper's Graveside Service with full Military Honors will be Friday, October 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Fort Smith National Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
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