Robert Allen Cooke
| Born | 19 Apr 1950, Wickenburg, Maricopa Co, AZ (HOR: Durham) |
| Died | 23 Sep 1969, Long Khanh Province, South Vietnam |
| Service Branch | Army |
| Rank | Specialist 4 |
| Rating or Job | Radioman |
| Unit | B Co, 5th BN, 12th INF Regt, 199th INF BDE, 4th INF DIV |
| Campaign | Viet Nam |
| Military Citations | |
| Honors | |
| Family | Father: K Dan Cooke Mother: Eleanor R Sabelman was born on September 12, 1924, in Red Bluff, Tehama Co, CA. She married K Dan Cooke on June 1, 1943, in Marysville, Yuba Co, CA. She died on October 20, 2009, in Gilroy, Santa Clara Co, CA, at 85. Children: Kathryn Lawrence Dan Cooke was born on July 17, 1946, in Red Bluff, Tehama Co, CA. He was married on July 24, 1976, in Monterey, Co, CA. He died on October 22, 1996, at 50. Michael Bruce Cooke was born on March 9, 1944, in Gerber, Tehama Co, CA. He died on October 9, 1996, in Durham, Butte Co, CA, at the age of 52. Ralph Arthur Cooke was born on December 15, 1955. He died on December 16, 1955. |
| Notes |
Spec. 4 Robert Allen Cooke April 19, 1950 - Sept. 23, 1969 Durham Robert Cooke stepped off the airplane in Vietnam on April 19, 1969, his 19th birthday. Five months later, Cooke’s platoon of the 199th Infantry was on patrol northwest of Saigon when they came under intense enemy fire. The young radioman was killed in the encounter. Robert Cooke was born in Wickenburg, Arizona, and his family moved two years later to Durham. He participated in many school sports and played the drums in the Durham High School Band. At age 14, Cooke began working at the Butte Creek Country Club. After graduating from Durham High in 1968, he hitchhiked across the country, took a ship to England, and eventually ended up in Switzerland. On his return to the States, he began working as the assistant golf pro at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara. While there, he received his draft notice, and entered the Army in November 1968. Chico News & Review, May 26, 1988
Casualty Details: Killed by small arms fire 553701216 SP4 USA (MOS 11B20: Infantryman) Listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall Washington, D.C. Panel W18, Line 128 Listed on the Gold Star Memorial Glen Oaks Memorial Park Burial: Chico Cemetery 30 11 1331 Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge
Robert Allen Cooke was born April 19, 1950 in Wickenburg, Maricopa Co, AZ. The family returned to California and settled in Durham in 1952. He was a 1968 graduate of Durham High School. He was active in sports and student activities. During his high school years he worked at the Butte Creek Country Club. After graduation he briefly toured Europe. Upon returning he became assistant pro at the La Cumbre County Club in Santa Barbara, CA. He entered the Army in November 1968 and arrived in Vietnam on April 19, his 19th birthday. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment “Warriors”, 199th Light Infantry Brigade “Red Catchers” as a radio operator. His platoon was northwest of Saigon on Sept. 23 when it came under enemy fire. He was killed during the encounter.
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| Sources |
National Archives Chico News & Review Bill Edmiston
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