Title: Colonel William Franklin Hook
Dates: 1989-2012
Collection Number: 11169
Quantity: 1.25 feet
Abstract: Consists of two of Colonel Hook's 311th Evacuation Hospital binders, an after action report by Hook, three Desert Storm scrapbooks, a story of the 311th in Operation Desert Shield/Storm by Col. Jacobson, a copy of Col. Hook's 2012 book Desert Storm Diary: Including the Ten Commandments of Muslim Diplomacy, Hook’s original diary, and a 311th TSOP (Tactical Standing Operating Procedures) manual.
Provenance: The collection was donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota by Colonel William Franklin Hook, MD, on April 30, 2013.
Property Rights: The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights to this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code or an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Transfer: Colonel Hook’s military uniforms were transferred to the Museum Division of the State Historical Society of North Dakota in May 2013.
DESERT STORM DIARY: INCLUDING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF MUSLIM DIPLOMACY
From Hook’s website for the book Desert Storm Diary accessed May 20, 2013
Referring to diary entries penned across the delicate months between the summer of 1990 and early 1991—pivoting on the Operation Desert Storm experience that landed him in the midst of a Middle Eastern conflict—Colonel Franklin Hook reflects that his diary “tells a story of anxiety,
emotional trauma, and war, the latter often described by combat veterans as weeks of boredom interspersed with a few moments of stark terror.”
Embedded in the ink of Hook’s narrative is every fret and fear that befalls life as an American citizen, a soldier, a friend, a physician, a husband, and a father… all at once, in the uncertain times of war. The “anxiety,” the “trauma,” and the “terror” of the text are all genuine, because Desert Storm Diary tells the real story of the encounter in the Gulf War from the perspective of active servicemen in the U.N.’s Coalition Force.
His story encourages the reader to reexamine previous judgments and opinions on the subject of war, considering the reality of another, much closer, perspective. Desert Storm Diary is a window looking in on a point-of-view belonging to the commander of North Dakota’s 311th Evacuation Hospital. He tells a story about a war that most Americans living today will remember well.
Yes, Desert Storm Diary is about war—but more so, this wartime diary is about the people who lived it, soldiers and citizens alike.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
From Hook’s website for his book Never Subdued accessed May 14, 2013
William Franklin Hook, MD is a graduate of Stanford University and the Jefferson Medical College of Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, and a retired physician radiologist, an ex-associate professor of radiology at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, and an author.
Dr. Hook's long and distinguished military career includes three years active duty with the Navy and service as a reserve Army officer. Colonel Hook commanded the 311th Evacuation Hospital during its deployment to the Middle East during the first Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm).
His military awards include the National Defense Medal with clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Expedition Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (Desert Storm), Liberation of Kuwait Medal (Saudi Government), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
Col. Hook belongs to the American Legion and is a lifetime member of the VFW. He currently lives in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
BOX / FOLDER INVENTORY
Box 1:
1 Desert Storm Scrapbook # 1, 1991
2 Desert Storm Scrapbook # 1, 1991 (continued)
3 Desert Storm Scrapbook # 1, 1991 (continued)
4 Desert Storm Scrapbook # 2, 1991
5 Desert Storm Scrapbook # 2, 1991 (continued)
6 Desert Storm Scrapbook # 3, 1991
7 Desert Storm Scrapbook # 3, 1991 (continued)
8 Desert Storm Scrapbook # 3, 1991 (continued)
Box 2:
1 Desert Storm Diary, 2012
2 After Action Report, 311th Evacuation Hospital, ca. 1991
3 Day book, 1990-1991
4 “A Story about the 311th Evacuation Hospital During Operation Desert Shield – Desert Storm, August 2, 1990 – March 17, 1991,” Colonel John L. Jacobsen
5 311th Evacuation Hospital binder (Personnel, POC’s, Operations sections)
6 311th Evacuation Hospital binder (Logistics, Dates, Maps/Oman, Higher HQ, acronyms, Mo’s – Saudi sections)
7 311th Evacuation Hospital binder references
Box 3:
1 311th Evacuation Hospital binder references (continued)
2 311th Evacuation Hospital TSOP, ca. 1989
3 311th Evacuation Hospital TSOP, ca. 1989 (continued)
4 311th Evacuation Hospital TSOP, ca. 1989 (continued)
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