wartimecollectables.com Posted September 10, 2020 Share #1 Posted September 10, 2020 One last MOLLUS post! This medal is Adm. Francis Cooks' badge as handed down to his son as Hereditary Companion. The badge has Cooks' MOLLUS Member number 6665 engraved on the suspension as well as his son's Companion number. The badge has had the Members' pattern red center stripe drape changed to the Companion pattern with the blue center. Francis Augustus Cook served in the United States Navy from 1860 until 1903. Born in Northampton, Massachusetts on May 10, 1843. He was the son of Benjamin E. Cook, a general in the Massachusetts Militia. He was one of the few United States Navy officers to serve in combat in both the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War and is noted for commanding the USS Brooklyn at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.Appointed a midshipman at the Naval Academy in 1860, then Acting Ensign upon graduation in October 1863. He served aboard the USS Seminole in the West Gulf Coast Squadron and was at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864.Rising to captain in February 1896, he became the commanding officer of the cruiser USS Brooklyn in December 1896. The Brooklyn was assigned as the flagship of the Flying Squadron under Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley with Cook serving as Schley's flag captain and chief of staff.The Brooklyn, under Cook's command, distinguished herself at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898 and Captain Cook received the surrender of the Spanish ship Cristobal Colon after the battle.Promoted to rear admiral on March 21, 1903, he retired on September 5. A member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Military Order of Foreign Wars, Cook died in Northampton, Massachusetts on October 8, 1916 at the age of 73 and is buried in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skypilot6670 Posted September 10, 2020 Share #2 Posted September 10, 2020 Andrew that’s another great medal with a great soldier history. Are current officers eligible to join ? Have any NCOs joined ? And thanks for posting. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wartimecollectables.com Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted September 10, 2020 It's only officer's. I know it's still active and if your the lineal male descendant and no one else holds the place, you can join. I ASSUME the Civil War veteran had to be a MOLLUS member so the descendant can join. Link through the Sons of Union Veteran's.http://www.suvcw.org/mollus/mollus.htm FYI The SUV is also very much active. Any male with an Honorably Discharged Yankee Civil War vet ancestor can join. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skypilot6670 Posted September 10, 2020 Share #4 Posted September 10, 2020 Andrew ,thanks for schooling me. It’s great that they keep them going. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wartimecollectables.com Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted September 10, 2020 LoL.... Minor payback for your schooling me on Corps badgez! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cylekostello Posted September 12, 2020 Share #6 Posted September 12, 2020 Just spent the better part of half an hour pouring over your MOLLUS posts, all super fascinating.Great pieces as well, always found the design on these to be rather striking Kyle Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted September 12, 2020 Share #7 Posted September 12, 2020 Andrew, Another nice nice medal! MIke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Heritage Posted December 15, 2021 Share #8 Posted December 15, 2021 On 9/10/2020 at 5:31 PM, wartimecollectables.com said: It's only officer's. I know it's still active and if your the lineal male descendant and no one else holds the place, you can join. I ASSUME the Civil War veteran had to be a MOLLUS member so the descendant can join. Link through the Sons of Union Veteran's. http://www.suvcw.org/mollus/mollus.htm FYI The SUV is also very much active. Any male with an Honorably Discharged Yankee Civil War vet ancestor can join. Found out the Veteran officer does not need to have been a member of MOLLUS for a descendant to join. I am submitting my application to join MOLLUS now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LYONSJ9 Posted January 27, 2023 Share #9 Posted January 27, 2023 On 9/10/2020 at 12:33 PM, wartimecollectables.com said: One last MOLLUS post! This medal is Adm. Francis Cooks' badge as handed down to his son as Hereditary Companion. The badge has Cooks' MOLLUS Member number 6665 engraved on the suspension as well as his son's Companion number. The badge has had the Members' pattern red center stripe drape changed to the Companion pattern with the blue center. Francis Augustus Cook served in the United States Navy from 1860 until 1903. Born in Northampton, Massachusetts on May 10, 1843. He was the son of Benjamin E. Cook, a general in the Massachusetts Militia. He was one of the few United States Navy officers to serve in combat in both the American Civil War and the Spanish–American War and is noted for commanding the USS Brooklyn at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba.Appointed a midshipman at the Naval Academy in 1860, then Acting Ensign upon graduation in October 1863. He served aboard the USS Seminole in the West Gulf Coast Squadron and was at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864.Rising to captain in February 1896, he became the commanding officer of the cruiser USS Brooklyn in December 1896. The Brooklyn was assigned as the flagship of the Flying Squadron under Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley with Cook serving as Schley's flag captain and chief of staff.The Brooklyn, under Cook's command, distinguished herself at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898 and Captain Cook received the surrender of the Spanish ship Cristobal Colon after the battle.Promoted to rear admiral on March 21, 1903, he retired on September 5. A member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Military Order of Foreign Wars, Cook died in Northampton, Massachusetts on October 8, 1916 at the age of 73 and is buried in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. Incredible piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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