Each year around Veterans Day, the University of Utah selects nominated military veterans to be honored during a special ceremony. This year the University Veterans Day committee chose to honor World War II veterans because of their "advancing" years and "enormous" contributions they made to their country.

The following 11 World War II veterans (their short biographies were written by a university official) will be honored at 11 a.m. on Nov. 9 in the main ballroom of the U.'s Olpin Union Building.

• Charles A. Cooke came to Utah from Mississippi as part of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was drafted into the Army, where he was a machine-gunner with the 38th Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. After three months in North Africa, he landed on Utah Beach in Normandy two days after D-Day. Cooke was never wounded in battle and was discharged at Fort Douglas in 1946.

• John L. Moore joined the Army Air Corps Reserve in 1942. In May 1944, Moore's crew, part of the 492nd Bombardment Group, began flying missions over Europe. After 26 missions, Moore was assigned to the clandestine 801 Composite Group, nicknamed Operation Carpetbagger. Moore also flew 25 night missions in the Korean War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, five Air Medals, three European Campaign Medals and two Korean Campaign Medals.

• Lawrence W. Stimpson volunteered for the Army in February 1944 and was assigned to the 504th Parachute Regiment, 82nd Airborne, the "All American" Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star for actions in Anzio, Italy, in 1944 during weeks of relentless artillery bombardment, under which many of his fellow paratroopers suffered physical and psychological damage. By the time the company was withdrawn, only 13 men of the original roster were fit for duty. After Anzio, his company rested and rejoined battle at Nijmegen, Holland. Stimpson is the only original member of the 120-men B-Company to have survived unscathed.

• Luman P. Slagle went into the Army in 1942. He served in the 60th Artillery of the 9th Infantry Division. Slagle landed on Normandy two days after D-Day. He was given the duties of radio operator on an artillery forward observation team. Slagle and company advanced through France and captured the Remagen Bridge, which was the only one over the Rhine left standing. Slagle was awarded the Silver Star.