Urie Henry Zook was born on October 19, 1922, in Belleville, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Henry Moses Zook and Annie K. Peachey Zook. He served in the 600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Togglier of B-17 #43-39128, nicknamed ''Beatty’s 8-Balls'' during World War II.

On February 22, 1945, SSgt Urie Henry Zook survived the crash of his B-17 near Altendorf, Germany, after it was attacked by enemy jet fighters during a mission over Stendal. Captured by German forces, he became a prisoner of war. Tragically, on March 10, 1945, while being transported by train to another POW camp, Zook was killed in an Allied air raid, despite the prisoners’ attempt to mark the train with “POW” to signal their status.

SSgt Zook is now buried in the Locust Grove Cemetery, Belleville, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, USA. Urie H. Zook's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 10, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, b17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org