08/26/2026
We Remember Wednesday
Today, we remember and honor Theodore “Ted” M. Cook, a lifelong Louisburg resident and World War II Army veteran whose journey took him from a small Kansas community to Europe, the beaches of Normandy, and eventually the Philippines.
Ted was born on September 18, 1920, and grew up here in Louisburg. He graduated from Louisburg Rural High School in 1940.
Less than two years after graduation, the United States was at war. On August 4, 1942, Ted entered the United States Army at Leavenworth, Kansas. His training took him to Camp Sibert, Alabama; Camp Pickett, Virginia; and Fort Dix, New Jersey, as the Army prepared thousands of young Americans for the enormous task ahead.
On November 5, 1943, he sailed out of New York Harbor aboard the Frederick Lykes. After crossing the Atlantic, he arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 17 and continued by train to Gloucester, England.
He would spend the following months in England as Allied forces prepared for the liberation of Europe. Then came Normandy.
On July 17, 1944, a little more than a month after the D-Day invasion, Ted departed Gloucester. Five days later, he landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, the same stretch of coastline where American forces had suffered tremendous casualties during the initial landings on June 6.
After coming ashore, Ted and the other soldiers were force-marched approximately 34 miles to Montebourg, France.
During much of his time in the Army, Ted served as a cook. It may not be the job most often depicted when we think about World War II, but feeding soldiers was essential to keeping an army functioning. Thousands of men depended upon soldiers like Ted to keep them fed while units trained, traveled and operated thousands of miles from home.
Ted remained overseas as the war in Europe came to an end in May 1945. Instead of immediately returning home, Ted was sent toward another theater of war.
On July 26, 1945, he departed France aboard the USS Admiral E.E. Eberle, bound for the Pacific.
While Ted was making that journey, history changed dramatically. Japan announced its surrender in August, bringing an end to World War II.
Ted arrived in Manila, Philippines, on September 2, 1945, the very day Japan formally signed the surrender documents aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. After remaining in the Philippines for several more months, Ted finally began the journey home.
On November 30, 1945, he departed Manila aboard the Effingham and arrived home on December 30, 1945.
After years of training, an Atlantic crossing, service in England and France, landing at Omaha Beach, another voyage toward the Pacific and service in the Philippines, the young man from Louisburg was finally home.
Ted completed his Army service as a Technician Fourth Class. For his service, he received the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and American Service Medal.
But Ted’s story didn’t end when he took off the uniform. On May 16, 1949, he married Betty Stephenson. They made their home in Louisburg and raised five children, Steve, Jan, Dennis, Lori and Paul.
Ted spent 28 years working for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company. Away from work, he enjoyed carpentry, gardening, music, and was a member of First Baptist Church.
He also remained connected to the men and women who had served before and alongside him as a member of John P. Hand American Legion Post 250. Ted passed away on September 22, 1987, just four days after his 67th birthday.
His story is another reminder of why we started We Remember Wednesday. Behind familiar Louisburg names are stories that can easily disappear with time.
More than 80 years ago, a young man from our community left home and crossed an ocean to serve his country during the largest war the world had ever known. He landed on Omaha Beach, served in Europe, traveled on to the Philippines and eventually made his way back to the small Kansas town where his story began.
Theodore “Ted” M. Cook, United States Army, World War II veteran, lifelong Louisburg resident and one of our own at American Legion Post 250.
