Airborne Engineer Platoon w/Major Julian Cook

Airborne engineers gave an Airborne company extra pioneer supplies to clear mines and traps or set up their own. Or they could just shove all those explosives into a Jerry tank's vision slits, road wheels or open hatches!

Major Julian Cook

Julian Cook graduated as an officer from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1940. In 1942 he volunteered for the 82nd Airborne Division and joined the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR).

On 9 July 1943, Cook made his first combat jump during Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily. On his way out the door of his C-47 transport plane, he was hit ‘in the can’ and in the leg by flak, narrowly missing his artery. Nevertheless, he made the jump.

Cook made four more combat jumps—Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Normandy—before being given command of 3rd Battalion, 504th PIR just prior to Operation Market Garden.

On 17 September, Major Cook jumped into Holland at DZ (drop zone) ‘O’ near the Maas-Waal Canal. After helping to secure the canal crossing, Cook and his men marched to Nijmegen.

General Gavin ordered a daylight crossing of the Waal River to outflank the stubborn German defenders entrenched around the city’s important bridges. Cook was given command of the crossing and joined his men in the first wave across the river.

Allied artillery and tanks opened fire on the northern bank as Major Cook’s first wave began their crossing. The wind blew the smoke screen away, revealing the paratroopers to the German machine-guns.

Major Cook noticed the paratroopers wavering under the intense German defensive fire. Being a devout Catholic, he loudly recited ‘Hail Mary’. Cook took charge of the chaotic boats, redirecting disoriented assault boats and pushing his men along.

Once ashore Cook and his men cleared the river bank and assaulted the highway bridge. After a sharp fight the 3rd Battalion, 504th PIR at 1900 hours, captured the bridge.

The British general, Sir Miles Dempsey, witnessed the 504th PIR’s crossing, shook his head in amazement and simply described the crossing as, ‘Unbelievable’.

Characteristics

Major Julian Cook is a Warrior and a Higher Command Rifle team rated as Fearless Veteran. Major Cook is an Independent team.

Major Cook may join a US Parachute Rifle Company from the 82nd Airborne Division for +50 points.