James R. Cook

James Cook enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on September 5, 1962, and was trained as a flight control mechanic on the TM-76A Mace missile system. His first assignment was with the 38th Missile Maintenance Squadron at Sembach AB, West Germany, from December 1963 to December 1965, followed by the 507th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, where he served as a missile guidance specialist from December 1965 to December 1966. Sergeant Cook then served with the 328th Munitions Maintenance Squadron at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri, from December 1966 to August 1967, when he deployed to Southeast Asia. He served with the 388th Munitions Maintenance Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from August 1967 to September 1968, and then with the 3417th Consolidated Maintenance Squadron at Lawry AFB, Colordo, after returning to the United States. Sergeant Cook then cross-trained as a B-52 Stratofortress gunner and served with the 51st Bomb Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, before being assigned to the 307th Strategic Wing at U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand. He was forced to bail out of his stricken aircraft over North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker II on December 26, 1972, and was taken as a Prisoner of War.