On any given day, you could be standing in front of a genuine, bonafide hero of great significance and never suspect that he or she was anything more than an average but important, productive member of American society. How many are there and how do we show our gratitude to those who have watched our backs while serving America in silence? On January 30, 1929 a child of The Depression was born at home in Chillicothe, IL, to Lawrence and Cora Cook—he was named Ken and they lived on Cutwright St. 

Times were hard then, to say the least, but as young Ken and his brother Dale slowly matured, he came to be driven to achieve. Tensions arose with his mother and he was persuaded to live with his aunt Thelma in Weldon, IL near Clinton—a flat land farming community, which would change his life forever and begin to define him, all at the age of 14. 

At Nixon Township H.S. this new junior, kid on the block, caused some distraction with the girls and at first the guys could just as well do without him but it was not long before Miss Anita Mills, a freshman, smiled at him and from that moment to some 70 years later a strong bond shaped their lives. After graduation Ken enlisted in the US Army, and upon his discharge and Anita’s graduation, they were married on November 19, 1948 in a small farm house on a dusty road somewhere between Cisco, IL and Weldon by a Methodist Preacher and all was well.

Ken worked in Decatur as a laborer but he wanted to get back to his roots, so in 1950 Chillicothe became their home. Anita worked for Jefferson Trust and Savings in Peoria for 16 years then in a 9-year span, she worked at Truitt Mathews Bank and was Vice President and loan officer at The First National Bank in Chillicothe. In her career with the public, she was well-loved and respected, personable, and an admired example of professionalism. In the meantime, young 22-year-old Ken worked periodically as a fireman on the Rock Island Rail Road shoveling coal on a Steam engine “ole number 886” with engineer Ray Vonk, Nancy Kaelin’s grandfather, and helped set a record speed run from Peoria to Bureau Junction. 

Back home, Ken re-connected with old friends and returned to the Army in the reserves unit for a shooting program and to further serve his country. In this period  he was acquiring experience in carpentry, welding, and knowledge of Millwright talents and became a licensed contractor from 1957 to 1965 working 29 years as a top millwright and professional welder for outfits like Jobst Brothers and River City Construction and others. After his return to Chillicothe, he helped Bud Johnson and others upgrade and improve the 470th Transportation Battalion Reserve Unit from 1957 to 1977 that included and recruited many Chillicothe Reserve members. He trained and prepared new recruits on maneuvers and weapons efficiency. 

Eventually Ken transferred to The 85th Division Armored Calvary. Ken participated in competition marksmanship events with a team of Chillicothe shooters he holds in high regards to this day, and his individual success as a marksman is recognized as one of the very best to ever drop an iron site on a target, and he has the hardware to prove it. In 1966 he won The Gold Army Distinguished Rifleman Medal, and in 1989 he won the 300 yard Rapid Fire Match event. Webster’s defines patriots as those who love their native country and will do all they can for it. As Ken climbed the ladder in rank, in his 34-year run, he occasionally served on special duty assignments overseas in Europe and China which left Anita at home but she understood the importance, stood by her partner and was proud of his dedication and commitment to duty for his country while showing her own strong patriotic strength. 

Nita, as Ken called her, graduated with very high honors and was a lady of great accomplishment with an adventurous side to her. One good friend and co-worker Nancy Kaelin said that she always seemed to have a special aura around her. She loved to travel in Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, and South America. They traveled to Rio de Janeiro once for an unforgettable 2 week holiday with much needed rest and regeneration and had the time of their lives. All they needed was each other with good memories and there were plenty of them. 

“Memories, pressed between the pages in my mind. Memories, sweetened through the ages just like wine. Memories.” 

For some Heroes, it’s not what we know they have done, but what very few will ever know they’ve done and they are the ones who risked the most for those who benefit the most and never will be able to show gratitude to those they owe their very life and safety to under the blanket they provide. As you might glean, there is much more to the story of Sergeant Major Cook than this space will hold. For their 68 years of marriage, Ken and Nita produced their own success story, and helped lift up others along the way. In her last three years, Ken was there beside her until the girl with the sweet smile slipped away. At this writing Ken, God willing, will turn 96 in 44 days and I think if it were possible he would trade in all of his awards, accolades, honors, and medals for just one day with his better half and best friend on his birthday. 

The complete story of Sergeant Major Ken L. Cook could be a best seller with the flavor of an Ian Fleming style. In many hours of interviews with Ken, I feel very honored to have had the task of scripting his memories. He is a man of great character and honor although he would not say it and a man to be respected.

There have been and always will be Hometown Heroes in Chillicothe of different walks, occupations and stature, and now Ken L. Cook Sergeant Major US Army (ret.) joins those ranks. Thank you, Sir for your dedicated service to our town and nation.