The name Fred H. Cooper was included in the US War Department's listing of World War II casualties from Santa Cruz County, California. No information is currently available as to his parents, siblings or connection with the county. March 15, 1942, enlistment records described Cooper as being a male Caucasian, born in Pennsylvania in 1907. At the time of his selective service registration, he was a resident of Multnomah County, Oregon. Those records also reveal that he had completed four years of high school, was a salesman by occupation and that he was single without dependent children.

Following the completion of his basic and advanced training, it is believed that he was assigned to the 23rd Armored Infantry Battalion of the 7th Armored Division. In early September, his unit was attacking German forces in the vicinity of Metz, France.

“Before the battalion succeeded in recovering contact with its column, the column was halted by enemy resistance at Rezonville. Headquarters Combat Command A and Force I pulled off the road, and this battalion was brought forward with all possible speed to clear the route. Five prisoners were taken in the vicinity of Rezonville, and it was decided to by-pass the town and proceed cross-country to locate a bridgehead site on the Moselle River south of Metz. The cross-country movement was made during the night of 6-7 September, and the head of the battalion entered the town of Dornot, on the Moselle River, at about 0400, 7 September 44. During the day, the town was cleared of all enemy troops, with the exception of a few snipers, and an outpost line was established about it. Fire was received from artillery, mortars, flak guns, antitank guns, and small arms ...
Killed in Action Cooper, Fred, H, Private”

The date that Fred H. Cooper was killed in action has not been established. His unit history lists him among its September 1944 casualties. It is also not known why his regiment lists him as a private while the War Department lists him as a Staff Sergeant.

The location of his remains, if recovered, has not been identified, but may have been returned to the US.

(ACGEN; NARA2; http://www.7tharmddiv.org/docrep/N-23-AAR. doc)