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Wilmer Paul Cook was born on 1 October 1932 and attended high school in Annapolis, Md., graduating the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1956. He became a naval aviator and an expert in the A-4E Skyhawk, serving in Attack Squadrons 125, 216, 192, and 112 before joining VA-155. He took command of VA-155 after the loss of the unit's commanding and executive officers. On 22 December 1967, Lcdr Cook perished when his plane was hit by enemy fire. (click on the photo for a more complete biography of Lcdr Cook.)
USS Cook (DE 1083) (1971-1992) was the first ship named in his honor.
"Cook has the distinction of being the only ship in the history of the U.S. Navy to have buried her own namesake. Lcdr Cook was shot down on 22 December 1967. In 1989 his remains were returned to the United States, and a memorial service was held on board Cook on 24 November 1989, at which time his ashes were buried at sea." (Jim Lavelle's note at Whatever Happened) |
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11 November 1979: San Diego, Cal. - Cook photographed in port at San Diego. |
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1 May 1981: At Sea - A port bow view of USS Cook (FF 1083) underway. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-00680 by PH3 Robert Swinland from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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12 May 1981: At Sea - A port bow view of Cook underway while en route to Hawaii. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-11728 by PH3 Robert Swinland from the DVIC) |
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4 September 1981: At Sea - left rear view of an SH-2F Seasprite helicopter from Light Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 35 (HSL-35), assigned to Anti-submarine Warfare Wing Pacific, preparing to land on the helicopter pad aboard Cook. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-82-01147 by PH1 L.B. Foster from the DVIC) |
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8 September 1985: At Sea - A starboard beam view of Cook, foreground, and a Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyer underway. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-10741 by PH3 Fred Brewer from the DVIC) |
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January 1987: Southbound at 21 knots along the California coast enroute from Weapons Station, Seal Beach to San Diego. Picture was taken from the ship's gig and prints were included in the decommissioning ceremony program. (caption supplied by former CO Bob Lang) |
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January 1987 (exact date shot unknown): At Sea - Cook, (foreground) and the Forrestal Class Aircraft Carrier USS Ranger (CV 61) underway. Airborne is a H-3 Sea King helicopter. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-05-06694 from the DVIC) |
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1 August 1987: At Sea - A starboard beam view of Cook underway with the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV 64) battle group. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-08858 by PH1 Barrett from the DVIC) |
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1 August 1987: At Sea - A port view of Cook underway with the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV 64) battle group. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-08881 by PH1 Barrett from the DVIC) |
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July 1988: At Sea - A bow view of the ships composing the battleship USS Missouri (BB 63) battle group participating in the multinational Exercise RIMPAC '88. They are, front to back: Cook, the guided missile frigate USS McClusky (FFG 41), the destroyer USS John Young (DD 973) and the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN 9). (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-89-05371 by Terry Cosgrove from the DVIC) |
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July 1988: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - Cook with USS Joseph Strauss (DDG 16) outboard of her at Pearl Harbor during RIMPAC '88. |
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July 1988: Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hi. - A port beam view of Cook departing Pearl Harbor through the channel. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-04843 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC) |
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1 June 1990: Diego Garcia - Cook is moored alongside the fast combat support ship USS Camden (AOE 2) in the lagoon at Diego Garcia with the Constellation Battle Group. USS Ouellet (FF 1077) is moored to the quay wall in the background. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-93-01106 from the DVIC) |
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1 June 1990: Diego Garcia - Cook is moored alongside the fast combat support ship USS Camden (AOE 2) in the lagoon at Diego Garcia with the Constellation Battle Group. The bow of USS Constellation (CV 64) can be seen in the background of this photo. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-93-01107 from the DVIC) |
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24 May 1991: Naval Station San Diego, Cal. - A crew member climbs scaffolding as he prepares to paint the bow of Cook. In the background, sailors man the rails aboard the guided missile frigate USS Mahlon S. Tisdale (FFG 27) as the vessel enters port following deployment in the Western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-91-11786 by JO1(AW) Joseph F. Lancaster from the DVIC) |
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25 March 2006: Keelung, Taiwan - ROCS Hae Yang (FFG 936) moored in Keelung Harbor. |
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20 June 2006: Suao, Taiwan - Hae Yang moored in Suao Harbor. |
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20 June 2006: Suao, Taiwan - Hae Yang moored in Suao Harbor. |
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20 June 2006: Suao, Taiwan - Hae Yang moored in Suao Harbor. |
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20 June 2006: Suao, Taiwan - Hae Yang moored in Suao Harbor. |
