WPCook

Crest of USNA Class of 1956

Photo courtesy of Walter Bengston. Official USN Photo. Back to Navy Links

Details of Bill's Last Flight Inscriptions on Viet Nam Memorial USS Cook brief History Vessel Registry

       CDR Bill Cook. USNA Class of 1956. Bill was lost over Viet Nam in 1967. Click on buttons above for details of the action and to see his many decorations! A-4E Skyhawk      Gene Sullivan: Bill Cook's Roomate.
                  Bill Cook USNA-56                                            Bill's Roomate: Gene Sullivan
                     Gene's Interpreter          Third Company        Bill's Protector

Flight of Four A-4E SkyHawks. The Navy plans to retire the SkyHawk in June 1999 at a formal ceremony at NAS Pensacola. The Navy A-4E SkyHawk, a lightweight attack and ground support aircraft. The plane is so compact that it does not need folding wings for deck storage and handling

   RIMPAC-88: The Frigate USS Cook (FF-1083), The Guided Missile Frigate USS McCluskey (FFG 41), the Destroyer John Young (DD 973), and the Guided Missile Cruiser Long Beach (CGN 9)
    USS Cook: RIMPAC-88.           Click for Group Photo.            Wedding at Whiting Field: 1957.

    Note: The following information was received from Jim Lavelle, who served in USS Cook.
    "Yes, the USS COOK was named for Wilmer Paul Cook who was lost in Vietnam. The COOK has the distinction of being the only ship in the history of the US Navy to have buried her own namesake. LCdr Cook was shot down on 12/22/1967. In 1989 his remains were returned to the United States. A memorial service was held on board the COOK on 11/24/1989 at which time his ashes were buried at sea. The COOK was decommissioned on 30 April 1992 and eventually leased to Taiwan where it is still in service."   Jim Lavelle
     Note: Jim Lavelle maintains a web site in honor of Father who served in USS Gunnel (SS-253).