Patriot Guard Riders

The family of Henry Eugene Cook has requested that South Carolina’s Patriot Guard Riders conduct an Honor Mission in support of the funeral of their Soldier.

Henry Cook served in World War II. In December of 1944 he was serving with the 101st Airborne in Belgium near the town of Bastogne. You think you’ve been cold? No, Henry Cook knew what cold was then. It was one of the hardest winters Europe has ever seen. Bone jarring cold for day after day after day during a battle the entire world would come to know as ‘The Bulge’.

Henry’s unit was overrun and he became a Prisoner of War. If anything, that made it colder. His world became one of concentrating on survival for himself and his fellow prisoners. The rest of the world knew that Patton’s 3rd Army was conducting an incredible pivot and march to relieve Bastogne. Inside the camp they only knew cold and snow and trying to hang on.

Henry Cook survived that camp. Patton’s soldiers walked and ran through the snow for more than 48 hours, arrived hungry and tired and, being American Soldiers, immediately launched a fierce counter attack against the German Army. The siege of Bastogne was broken as was the German Army. In just a few weeks Spring came and with it came freedom.

Henry Cook came home, raised a family, worked, paid his taxes and went to church. He was a quiet, humble man who never mentioned that Bronze Star with ‘V’. But he was forever a man who knew what it meant to be cold. We, the SCPGR, are privileged to stand bearing silent witness as this Hero is finally allowed to rest.

THURSDAY 02 JUNE 2016

Staging Time: 1015 (10:15 am)

Staging Location: Newberry Memorial Gardens
Wilson Road (US 76)
Newberry SC 29108

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/qdLKuZtdtY72

Briefing: 1030

Mission Description: Establish and maintain Flag Line during graveside service.

Mission Duration: 1 Hour

Ride Captain: Melissa Stevens
freebirdsnsc@yahoo.com
864-344-4999

He fought for you. He endured cold and pain and fear for all of us. It is now our turn to stand in honor of a Soldier who endured. Please join with your fellow Patriots in Newberry on Thursday morning. And Newberry……….a Hero died on Memorial Day. He is being laid to rest on a warm day…………..Listen For The Rumble.