He is often incorrectly called the last surviving veteran of the Spanish–American War. In fact, Cook was a veteran of the Philippine Insurrection of 1899–1902. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1901 at the age of sixteen. References The Amalgamation (merger) Agreements of the five societies that became the USWV are recreated in the front of every National Encampment Journal from 1904–1989. The journals are titled "Proceedings of the Stated Convention of the ___th National Encampment, United Spanish War Veterans, (Location) (Dates). Eligibility to Membership is included in every copy of "Constitution and Rules and Regulations, USWV". These were issued irregularly, usually when major changes were voted into these statutes at National Encampments. External links Commanders-in-Chief, United Spanish War Veterans Spanish–American War People of the Spanish–American War American veterans' organizations Patriotic and national organizations chartered by the United States Congress Defunct organizations based in the United States