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Donald Cook (Medal of Honor)

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454:, earned him the deepest respect from not only his fellow prisoners, but his captors as well. Rather than negotiate for his own release or better treatment, he steadfastly frustrated attempts by the Viet Cong to break his indomitable spirit and passed this same resolve on to the men whose well-being he so closely associated himself. Knowing his refusals would prevent his release prior to the end of the war, and also knowing his chances for prolonged survival would be small in the event of continued refusal, he chose nevertheless to adhere to a Code of Conduct far above that which could be expected. His personal valor and exceptional spirit of loyalty in the face of almost certain death reflected the highest credit upon Colonel Cook, the Marine Corps, and the 367: 328: 319: 285: 358: 431: 312: 303: 450:
than his share of responsibility for their health, Colonel Cook willingly and unselfishly put the interests of his comrades before that of his own well-being and, eventually, his life. Giving more needy men his medicine and drug allowance while constantly nursing them, he risked infection from contagious diseases while in a rapidly deteriorating state of health. This unselfish and exemplary conduct, coupled with his refusal to stray even the slightest from the
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in the Republic of Vietnam during the period 31 December 1964 to 8 December 1967. Despite the fact that by so doing he would bring about harsher treatment for himself, Colonel (then Captain) Cook established himself as the senior prisoner, even though in actuality he was not. Repeatedly assuming more
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Cook Hall at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Presidio of Monterey, in Monterey, California, is named after Cook, who graduated from the school's Chinese Mandarin course in May 1961. Cook Hall was dedicated in late 2014 and is the largest and most modern academic building of
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active duty (officer or enlisted) or Government Civilian intelligence professional to recognize professional excellence and exceptional dedication to duty in Marine Corps Intelligence. Annually presented, the award is sponsored by the National Military Intelligence Association (NMIA).
233:, studying Chinese and graduated near the top of his class. Lieutenant Cook was assigned to Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, in 1961 and was promoted to captain on March 1, 1962. He held a series of assignments in the Marine Corps and was sent to 505:
is named in his honor. Col. Donald G. Cook Chapter 5 DAV assists veterans in obtaining compensation for their service-connected disabilities, raises funds to support the DAV travel service for disabled veterans to the
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while interned as a Prisoner of War by the
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bestows the Colonel Donald G. Cook '56 Award to alumni for unselfish service to others. It is the College's most prestigious alumni award.
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at age 33 on December 8, 1967, and was buried in the jungle by his fellow prisoners. He was posthumously promoted from
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Veterans Hospital, and generally serves the needs of disabled Veterans in Burlington and the surrounding areas.
400: 507: 366: 850: 20: 269: 86: 217:. In 1956 he enlisted in the Marine Corps as a private but was quickly sent for officer training at the 686: 520: 513: 498: 210: 182: 112: 477: 226: 708: 622: 258: 254: 130: 351: 344: 337: 417: 412: 800: 795: 395: 230: 327: 8: 661: 502: 435: 141: 91: 318: 296: 675: 468: 222: 198: 57: 637: 596: 734: 541: 480: 246: 380: 357: 186: 165: 430: 789: 234: 206: 74: 389: 169: 155: 284: 494:
Cook is honored with a 'Freedom Tree' on the Vermont State House lawn.
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United States Marine Corps personnel killed in the Vietnam War
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Statue of Col. Cook on the campus of St. Michael's College in
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by the Viet Cong from December 31, 1964, until his death from
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Cook's body was never recovered. An official memorial stone (
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List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
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in 1957. In 1960 he attended Army Language School in
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United States Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients
531: 272:, Arlington, Virginia, Memorial Section MI Lot 110. 519:The Colonel Donald G. Cook award is presented to a 237:in late 1964, where he served as an advisor to the 787: 741:. History Division, United States Marine Corps 846:Vietnam War recipients of the Medal of Honor 575:"Notable Graves: Medal of Honor Recipients" 85:Remains never recovered; memorial stone in 856:Prisoners who died in Vietnamese detention 806:American people who died in prison custody 425: 181:(August 9, 1934 – December 8, 1967) was a 36: 841:Xavier High School (New York City) alumni 685:. Saint Michael's College. Archived from 581: 241:until he was wounded and captured by the 19:For other people with similar names, see 429: 836:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery 788: 642:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title ( 441:Citation for award of Medal of Honor: 245:several weeks later. He was held as a 16:United States Medal of Honor recipient 826:United States Marine Corps colonels 13: 758:Marines Awarded the Medal of Honor 683:"Colonel Donald G. Cook '56 Award" 14: 867: 774: 739:Who's Who in Marine Corps History 550:List of Medal of Honor recipients 497:Colonel Donald G. Cook Chapter 5 821:Military personnel from Brooklyn 534: 408:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal 365: 356: 350: 343: 336: 326: 317: 310: 301: 295: 283: 735:"Colonel Donald G. Cook, USMC" 650: 611: 589:"Colonel Donald G. Cook, USMC" 577:. Arlington National Cemetery. 567: 401:National Defense Service Medal 275: 1: 727: 508:White River Junction, Vermont 831:Vietnam War prisoners of war 711:. United States Marine Corps 192: 7: 781:Arlington National Cemetery 527: 456:United States Naval Service 270:Arlington National Cemetery 87:Arlington National Cemetery 10: 872: 521:United States Marine Corps 499:Disabled American Veterans 239:Vietnamese Marine Division 183:United States Marine Corps 113:United States Marine Corps 18: 462: 282: 219:Officer Candidates School 161: 151: 137: 126: 118: 106: 98: 80: 64: 44: 35: 28: 560: 478:guided missile destroyer 225:. He was commissioned a 197:Donald Cook was born in 514:Saint Michael's College 487:is named in his honor. 426:Medal of Honor citation 660:. WCAX. Archived from 460: 438: 418:Vietnam Campaign Medal 658:"New Vt Freedom Tree" 443: 433: 413:Vietnam Service Medal 211:St. Michael's College 119:Years of service 396:Combat Action Ribbon 231:Monterey, California 851:Deaths from malaria 503:Burlington, Vermont 491:the DLIFLC campus. 436:Colchester, Vermont 392:with one gold star 179:Donald Gilbert Cook 142:3rd Marine Division 92:Arlington, Virginia 75:Republic of Vietnam 469:United States Navy 439: 268:) can be found in 223:Quantico, Virginia 203:Xavier High School 199:Brooklyn, New York 58:Brooklyn, New York 423: 422: 373: 372: 227:second lieutenant 176: 175: 863: 765: 760:. Archived from 749: 747: 746: 721: 720: 718: 716: 705: 699: 698: 696: 694: 679: 673: 672: 670: 669: 654: 648: 647: 641: 633: 631: 630: 621:. Archived from 615: 609: 608: 606: 604: 599:on March 6, 2009 595:. 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He attended 194: 191: 187:Medal of Honor 185:officer and a 174: 173: 166:Medal of Honor 163: 159: 158: 153: 149: 148: 139: 135: 134: 128: 124: 123: 120: 116: 115: 110: 104: 103: 100: 96: 95: 84: 82: 78: 77: 72:(aged 33) 66: 62: 61: 55:August 9, 1934 46: 42: 41: 33: 32: 29: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 868: 857: 854: 852: 849: 847: 844: 842: 839: 837: 834: 832: 829: 827: 824: 822: 819: 817: 814: 812: 809: 807: 804: 802: 799: 797: 794: 793: 791: 782: 779: 778: 770: 767: 763: 759: 755: 751: 740: 736: 732: 731: 710: 704: 688: 684: 678: 664:on 2016-04-26 663: 659: 653: 645: 639: 625:on 2015-04-02 624: 620: 614: 598: 594: 590: 584: 576: 570: 566: 556: 553: 551: 548: 547: 543: 532: 525: 522: 517: 515: 511: 509: 504: 500: 495: 492: 488: 486: 484: 479: 476: 474: 473:Arleigh Burke 470: 459: 457: 453: 448: 442: 437: 432: 419: 416: 414: 411: 409: 406: 405: 402: 399: 397: 394: 391: 388: 387: 384: 382: 379: 377: 376: 368: 364: 359: 353: 346: 339: 332: 329: 325: 324: 320: 316: 313: 309: 304: 298: 291: 290: 286: 281: 273: 271: 267: 262: 260: 256: 252: 248: 244: 240: 236: 235:South Vietnam 232: 228: 224: 220: 216: 212: 208: 207:New York City 204: 200: 190: 188: 184: 180: 171: 167: 164: 160: 157: 154: 150: 147: 143: 140: 136: 132: 129: 125: 121: 117: 114: 111: 105: 102:United States 101: 97: 93: 88: 83: 79: 76: 67: 63: 59: 47: 43: 39: 34: 27: 22: 762:the original 757: 743:. 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Index

Donald Cook

Brooklyn, New York
Republic of Vietnam
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia
United States Marine Corps
Colonel
3rd Marine Division
MACV
Vietnam War
Medal of Honor
Purple Heart
United States Marine Corps
Medal of Honor
Brooklyn, New York
Xavier High School
New York City
St. Michael's College
Vermont
Officer Candidates School
Quantico, Virginia
second lieutenant
Monterey, California
South Vietnam
Vietnamese Marine Division
Viet Cong
prisoner of war
malaria
captain

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