Cooper, Richard J., 1917-2006.

Richard J. Cooper was born in Amsterdam, N.Y. in 1917 and enlisted in the Army at Albany, N.Y. in 1942. He had completed four years of high school and had an associate degree from business college. Cooper was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division because he had skied in the Adirondacks. He was selected for Officer's Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga. and then served at Camp Hale, Colo., Camp Swift, Tex., and in Italy with the 85th, 86th, and 87th Infantry Regiments. While engaged in combat operations, Cooper was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his actions at Monteforte in 1945. He attained the rank of Captain. Cooper died in 2006.