BackGround: Detroit Temple, Detroit, Michigan.
Up Dated 26 December 2007
Third Generation
Wade was born 24 April or May 1923 in Cohoctah Twp. Livingston, Michigan, and married 10 May 1946; in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan, Mynetta SUTTON the daughter of Howard M SUTTON and Golda _______. She was born about 1925. He died 1 Feb 1952; In the China Sea near Okinawa, as the result of an airplane crash.
History by James Waite McCOOK:
WADE McCOOK was the youngest son of Robert Avery and Eva (ELWOOD) McCOOK. He was born in his grandfather McCOOK's old house. He was a great friend his randfather's, being the youngst of the five of us, and all. Their grandfather McCOOK used to sit and hold him and sing Civil War songs, like "Just before the Battle Mother", and another one about a girl whose hair was curled so tight, she couldn't shut her mouth!
He went to Houghtalling School. Zoe LOTT was his teacher, and maybe Nellie Mc DONOUGH, also Edna KEILER and a KANINE girl taught the school about that time. They got $40.00 per month back then. Eva, was the Director of the school for a while in the 1930's. James W, too held the job at one time.
WADE was quite adventuresome at times. He and a friend Martin CRANSTON, used to go on cross country skiing trips in the winter. One time they rolled a big tree stump into the river, road it downriver and couldn't get off because the water was too deep. It was in the early spring and real cold. Especially after they got wet!
Wade went to Howel High School where he graduated and then helped his brother James W on the farm.
After graduation from high school, in 1941 he made a hitch-hiking trip to the West coast and back. He stopped to see the ANDERSON family in Davevport, Iowa.
He ensisted in the Air Corps soon after he graduated and was stationed at several places around the country. He was in Oklaholma, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado and California, and then to England.
While he was in England, Wade had a bicycle. A lot of people rode it while he was busy. One day it disappeared and was missing quite sometime, but finally showed up with new tires and a new paint job!
He was shipped to England with his crew, as a tail-gunner on a B-17. They made 12 bombing raids before they were shot down over Bremen, Germany. The tail section of the plane landed in a big tree, which probably saved his life. The other survivor in the tail was choking on his dental bridge, so Wade pulled it out of his throat and took off. James W. can't remember if the other man lived or not.
Wade hid in a brush pile for awhile but a farmer, his wife and hired man came by with a dog that sniffed him out. The men had pitch forks and wannted to kill him, but the woman wouldn't let them. He was turned over to the Luftwaffe (German air Force), and after sone beating, and questioning, they used him quite well, He spent 20 months in various prison camps. They ate lots of rotten potato and cabbage soup. We sent food packages which ended up in the same soup. The folks sent sweat shirts and other clothes, but very few items ever got there. He worked on several tunnels, but never got to use one. They usually caved in. His weight went down from 180 to 110.
Once they were next to a Russian camp with a road in between. One night a horse wandered up the road and the Russians pulled it up to the fence and butchered it right there. Sometimes the guard dogs disappeared, too!
When the Russians got closer, the prisoners were moved west toward France, and the guards just gradually disappeared.
Wade looked good when he got home. They came by boat and train. When they got to Port Huron, Wade had the train man call our Aunt Hazel Belyea and she called us on the farm. They were very glad to see him after about 2 years!
Wade married soon after he came home. He worked in Howell for Wylie Refrigeration for awhile. They went to Arizona in the Fall of 1949. Their son Mike was a baby. They bought a trailer from Mynetta's brother, Harold SUTTON.
Wade decided to go back into the Air Force in 1951. He was sent to Alaska and then to Okinawa as a flight engineer. He was killed in a mid-air collision in February 1952 off Okinawa and crashed in the China Sea. Susie had a letter from WADE after we learned he was gone,and gave it to their Dad.
1930 Census Cohctah, Livingston,Midhigan, ED 3 Sheet 5B Line 69
Age
Mar 1st | Place of Birth |
Name Relat Sex Race Age Sta Mar |Self Father Mother| Occupation
McCOOK Robert A. Head M W 47 M 28 Mich. Mich. Mich. Mail Clerk
" Eva M. Wife F W 34 M 20 Mich. Mich. Mich. None
" Robert E. Son M W 18 S ---- Mich. Mich, Mich. Farm Laborer
" James W. Son M W 16 S ---- Mich. Mich. Mich. None
" David E. Son M W 13 S ---- Mich. Mich. Mich. None
" Jean A. Dau F W 12 S ---- Mich. Mich. Mich. None
" Wade Son M W 6 S ---- Mich. Mich. Mich. None
" Elizath A. Dau F W 1 S ---- Mich. Mich. Mich. None
Own Value -------- had a Radio
Elizabeth Age 1 2/12
1930 Census Delta Twp, Eaton, Michigan, ED 12 Sheet 3A Line 12
Age
Mar 1st | Place of Birth |
Name Relat Race Sex Age Sta Mar |Self Father Mother| Occupation
SUTTON Howard Head W M 40 M 19 Mich. N. Y. Mich. Superentindent
Cemetary
" Golda Wife W F 40 M 22 Mich. Mich. N. Y. None
" Harold Son W M 19 S --- Mich. Mich. Mich. Laborer Cemetary
" Walter Son W M 13 S --- Mich. Mich. Mich. None
" Mynetta Dau W F 5 S --- Mich. Mich. Mich. None
Rent Home and have a Radio
Name: Wade McCook
Birth Year: 1923
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Michigan
State: Michigan
County or City: Livingston
Enlistment Date: 16 Jul 1941
Enlistment State: Michigan
Enlistment City: Detroit
Branch: Air Corps
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and
Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 66
Weight: 140
Name: Wade McCook
Race: White
Residence State: Michigan
Report Date: 08 Oct 1943
Grade: Staff Sergeant
Grade Notes: Major or Asst. superintendent of nurses or Director of nurses or
Director of dietitians or Director of physical therapy aides or
Staff Sergeant or Technician 3d Grade or Lt. Commander or Petty
Officer, 2nd Class
Service Branch: Army
Arm or Service: Air Corps
Arm or Service Code: Air Corps
Organization Type: Heavy Bomber (B17, B24)
Parent Unit Type: Group/Regiment/Commands/System
Area Served: European
Theatre: Germany
Detaining Country: Germany
Camp: Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
Status: Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
Report Source: Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
Name: Wade McCook Service Info.: TSGT US AIR FORCE KOREA Birth Date: 24 May 1923 Death Date: 01 Feb 1952 Service Start Date: 02 Nov 1948 Interment Date: 29 Apr 1952 Cemetery: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Cemetery Address: 2900 Sheridan Road St. Louis, MO 63125 Buried At: Section 85 Site 93
CHILDREN of Wade McCOOK and Mynetta SUTTON:
5151. 1. MIKE b: 5152. 2. JOE b:Back to 51. Robert Avery McCOOK's Family Page.
Back to Our Genealogy Home Page.
Back to Robert McCOOK's Home Page.
To reach me by e-mail click on mailbox
This Web Page was created on 07/30/1997 with 
Web-O-Rama or E-Mail Kevin Gunn