Nathan E. Cook

Nathan Edward Cook (October 10, 1885 – September 10, 1992) was a sailor in the United States Navy during the Philippine–American War whose naval career continued through the Second World War. When he died at the age of 106 he was the oldest surviving American war veteran.

Cook left a 50-cent-a-day job at a packing plant in a city from Kansas. He lied about his age (then 15) in order to join the Navy on July 9, 1901, after he saw a recruiting poster which said, "Join the Navy and See the World." He was assigned to the USS Pensacola.

He served during the Philippine–American War, which began shortly after Spain had ceded the Philippines to the United States after losing the Spanish–American War of 1898. The Philippine–American War lasted from 1899 until July 4, 1902 – one year after Cook's enlistment in the Navy.

Cook also saw service in the Boxer Rebellion and clashes along the U.S.–Mexico border.

After 12 and a half years of service as an enlisted man, he was appointed to the warrant officer rank of boatswain on January 11, 1913.

During the First World War he commanded a submarine chaser that sank two German U-boats.

Cook was promoted on August 15, 1918 to the temporary rank of lieutenant and was given command of the tugboat USS Favorite on the 21st of the same month.

Cook received a letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for his role in salvaging the USS Narragansett in February 1919. The text of his commendation is as follows – "As Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Favorite he took a conspicuous and creditable part in the operation of salvaging the U.S.S. Narragansett."

With the conclusion of the First World War, Cook was reduced to his permanent rank of Boatswain and was promoted to Chief Boatswain on January 11, 1919.

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