HR406
193288-2
By Representatives Weaver, Ainsworth, Alexander, Baker, Ball,
Beckman, Beech, Black, Blackshear, Boothe, Boyd, Bracy, Brown,
Buskey, Butler, Carns, Chesteen, Chestnut, Clarke, Clouse,
Coleman, Collins, Crawford, Daniels, Davis, Drake, Drummond,
Ellis, England, Farley, Faulkner, Faust, Fincher, Ford, Forte,
Fridy, Garrett, Gaston, Givan, Greer, Grimsley, Hall, Hanes,
Harbison, Harper, Henry, Hill, Hollis, Holmes (A), Holmes (M),
Howard, Hurst, Ingram, Jackson, Johnson (K), Johnson (R),
Jones, Knight, Lawrence, Ledbetter, Lee, Lindsey, Lovvorn,
Martin, McCampbell, McClammy, McCutcheon, McMillan, Millican,
Mooney, Moore (B), Moore (M), Morrow, Nordgren, Pettus,
Polizos, Poole, Pringle, Rich, Rogers, Rowe, Sanderford,
Scott, Sells, Sessions, Shedd, Shiver, South, Standridge,
Todd, Treadaway, Tuggle, Wadsworth, Warren, Whorton (I),
Whorton (R), Wilcox, Williams (JD), Williams (JW), Williams
(P), Wingo and Wood
RFD:
First Read: 15-MAR-18
193288-2:n:03/14/2018:JEC/jec LSA2018-1374
COMMENDING COLONEL CARL COOPER FOR DISTINGUISHED
MILITARY SERVICE AND HONORING HIM ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 98TH
BIRTHDAY.
WHEREAS, it is a tremendous privilege to recognize
Colonel Carl Cooper for his distinguished military service and
honor him on the momentous occasion of his 98th Birthday; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Carl Cooper was born March 18,
1920, in Clanton, Alabama, to the union of John Wiley and
Mattie Hawkins Cooper; he attended Chilton County High School,
where he served as Class President and as Captain,
quarterback, and fullback for the football team and graduated
in 1940; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Cooper earned a full football
scholarship to Howard College, now Samford University, and
graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology in 1943; he
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on April 1, 1942,
and completed his training at Paris Island, South Carolina;
and
WHEREAS, he received selection for Officer Candidate
School and was commissioned Second Lieutenant on September 2,
1944; he became a member of the 6th Marine Division, which was
formed on Guadacanal to locate close with and destroy the
enemy by fire preparing for the invasion of Japan; and
WHEREAS, the Invasion of Okinawa on April 1, 1945,
was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater of
World War II, and the Battle of Okinawa was the bloodiest of
the Pacific War with 55,162 American casualties and 14,009
killed; First Lieutenant Cooper led the 3rd Platoon, C Company
in 84 days of combat to capture the highest mountain on
Okinawa, Mount Yae-Take, and then Sugar Loaf; and
WHEREAS, before crossing the Aswa Kawa River, First
Lieutenant Cooper and his Platoon were hit by enemy bombs; his
unit received a Presidential Unit Citation, and five of his
men earned Silver Stars and Purple Hearts; blown backwards,
First Lieutenant Cooper landed on coral and incurred severe
injury to his back and hip; and
WHEREAS, he did not include his own injuries in the
After Action Report that resulted in his men being decorated;
the battle ended June 22, 1945, and First Lieutenant Cooper
left the island on July 4, 1945; he was released from active
duty on January 26, 1946, and began teaching and coaching at
Marion High School in Perry County, Alabama; under his expert
guidance and leadership, the basketball team made five
consecutive state basketball tournament appearances; and
WHEREAS, in late 1953, Captain Cooper returned to
active duty at Camp Pendleton in California during the Korean
War; he earned his Master's Degree in Education from
Vanderbilt in 1953 and contributed exceptional direction as
Principal of Carbon Hill High School from 1955 until 1957; in
1958, he was asked to assist in the development of a city
school system, and he acquiecesed; one the school system was
established, the newly formed board of education named him as
the first principal of Mountain Brook School; Major Cooper
returned to active duty in 1968 during the Vietnam War; he
remained on active duty and as a member of the Marine Reserves
until his retirement April 1, 1980; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Cooper provided 38 years of
remarkable service to the United States Marine Corps; he
earned numerous awards and accolades including the Expert
Rifle Badge, Expert Pistol Badge, American Campaign Medal
(WWII), American Defense Medal (WWII), Presidential Unit
Citation with One Star, the Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal with
Two Stars, (WWII), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Legion
of Merit Officer, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (WWII
Style), National Defense Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Marine Corps
Medal with Four Stars, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal,
United Nations Medal, World War II Victory Medal, World War II
50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal, and World War II Victory
in the Pacific 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, he was recruited to join FEMA and
worked disasters nationwide for 30 years; he joined the
Masonic Order in 1946, became a Shriner in 1948, and is a
loyal supporter of the Shriner's Children's Hospital; he
married his college sweetheart, the late Jimmie Anna Rutledge,
on June 6, 1943, and they had two children, the late James
Carl Cooper, a United States Marine; and the late Charlotte
Cooper Fant; Colonel Cooper has the utmost distinction of
being the oldest member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in
Vestavia Hills; and
WHEREAS, through the years, Colonel Cooper earned
widespread admiration and respect for his unwavering
commitment to excellence in the defense of freedom and
democracy; it is truly an honor to uplift such an
extraordinary individual on the occasion of his 98th Birthday,
a significant milestone that represents precious years of
wisdom earned and memories gained; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, That Colonel Carl Cooper is highly
honored and commended on the occasion of his 98th Birthday,
and this resolution is offered to him in deepest admiration
and appreciation for his immeasurable service, as well as with
sincere best wishes for continued blessings, happiness, and
prosperity.
April Weaver