Ships
- USS John D. Ford (DD-228) Captain, 14 April 1941 to 10 December 1941
- USS Alden (DD-211) Captain, 15 March 1942 to 15 April 1942
Jacob Elliott Cooper was born on 20 March 1902 in Bristol, Florida. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1926 and spent his career as an officer of the United States Navy.
On 14 April 1941 he became commanding officer of the destroyer John D. Ford (DD-228), and he held that command until 10 December 1941. The rank recorded for the tour is commander. John D. Ford belonged to the Asiatic Fleet and spent those months in Philippine waters. The war reached the Philippines on 8 December 1941. Cooper left the ship on 10 December.
Other reckonings still place him in command at the outbreak of the war and show no relief before Balikpapan. One of them keeps him in John D. Ford until 5 July 1942. Davis Wing Olney assumed command on 10 December 1941. The night of 23–24 January 1942 was not Cooper's. He was not her captain at Balikpapan.
A Navy Cross was published in his name for that January night off Balikpapan, a second Navy Cross for the night of 19–20 February 1942 in Badung Strait, and a Silver Star for the Battle of the Java Sea on 27 February 1942. Each of those awards names him as commanding officer of John D. Ford. Those nights came after he had left the ship.
He commanded Alden (DD-211) from 15 March 1942 to 15 April 1942, and the rank recorded for that month is lieutenant. Lewis Coley had commanded her through the Java Sea. Alden had reached Fremantle on 4 March. She was not in a fleet action during Cooper's month. Ernest Evans took command on 15 April.
In the latter part of 1942 he commanded the destroyer Drayton (DD-366). He was her captain on the night of 30 November–1 December 1942 in the battle off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, and a Silver Star was awarded for that action. He later became a captain and retired as a rear admiral. He died on 23 December 1974 in Dougherty County, Georgia.