Cordelia E Cook

 Cordelia Elizabeth "Betty" Cook  (March 17, 1919 – June 19, 1996) was an American combat nurse in the United States Army Nurse Corps during World War II. She was the first woman in the U.S. Army to receive both the Bronze Star Medal award and the Purple Heart.

Early life
Cook was born in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, on March 17, 1919. She obtained her primary schooling in Fort Thomas. Cook had three siblings (Navada b.1904, Henry b.1913, Jack b.1924). She went by the name "Betty".

Mid life
Cook attended the Christ Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati, Ohio, for 3 years and graduated in 1940. She became a surgical nurse of first lieutenant rank in the United States Army Nurse Corps. Cook was sent to Europe during World War II. The field hospital in Italy she was working at was bombed, while she was nursing wounded soldiers in 1943. In spite of the dangers she continued her nursing duties into January 1944 at the 11th Field Hospital in the Presenzano sector at the Italian front. She received a Bronze Star Metal award for her service, being the first woman to receive this award. Cook sustained a shrapnel wound from German artillery fire while carrying out her duties. Because of this she additionally received the Purple Heart award, being the first woman to receive both the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart military awards.

Later life
Cook was a registered nurse at Doctors Hospital North in Columbus, Ohio, for 28 years. She was a member of the Crestview Presbyterian Church in West Chester, Ohio, near Cincinnati.

Personal life
Cook married Harold E. Fillmore, a U.S. Army captain. The married name she used for documents and legal use was Cordelia Elizabeth Fillmore or Cordelia E. Fillmore, otherwise she used Cordelia Elizabeth Cook or Cordelia E. Cook or Betty Cook. Cook had a daughter (Sara) and two sons (David and William).

Death
Cordelia died in Upper Arlington, Ohio, on June 19, 1996, at 77 years of age.