Corporal Cooper was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division. He died of other causes on 11 May 1953 near Kimyong Jong-ni, South Korea.

Cooper was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.