Photo By Master Sgt. Teddy Wade | U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Darren Cook, AMC Command Chief Warrant Officer,...... read more read more
Subscribe
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – Although he is hanging up his Army uniform after more than 30 years, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Darren Cook said his mission to serve others will continue.
“As I transition out of the military, my wife and I will fully commit ourselves to our passion to make a difference and help others,” said Cook, who retired from his position as Army Materiel Command’s command chief warrant officer.
Cook said his eyes were opened to the hardships endured by people around the world when he went on a humanitarian mission to Honduras.
“That mission focused my attention toward the important things in life and immeasurably changed my perspective,” Cook said. “I had to do something.”
Since returning from the assignment over 15 years ago, Cook has chaired the board of Unity in the Community, a non-profit organization committed to mentoring the youth, and helping the community in his hometown of Boligee, Alabama, where about 45 percent of the residents fall below the poverty line. Cook said he plans to spend his retirement focusing on the group’s efforts.
More than 100 family members, colleagues and friends attended Cook’s retirement ceremony at the Sparkman Center April 6, which was hosted by AMC’s Commander Gen. Gus Perna.
Cook’s family has a long tradition of military service, including his wife, India, who served 22 years, and their three sons, all currently serving in the U.S. Army.
“It is absolutely remarkable in a country where less than one percent of the population serves in the military. The combined service to our nation by the Cook family is 99 years,” said Perna.
The general noted he was where he is today because of the Warrant Officer Cohort which taught him what right looks like in leadership, technical expertise and accountability.
“Competence, commitment, character and technical expertise is what gives Chief Warrant Officers the voice which carries the day, and Chief Cook embodies all of these traits,” said Perna.
Cook pointed at the audience and said, “I know somewhere along the way, each one of you played a critical role in my families’ success.”
Cook also noted that between his own and his sons’ deployments, they had spent much time away from each other.
“That is a significant amount of time that will never be recovered. I am optimistic that this retirement will give us the opportunity to reconnect,” he said.
During the ceremony, Perna paused to honor Cook’s uncles, Price and Lewis Harper, who served in the military during the Vietnam War. “These courageous men did what our country asked them to do without question and with honor. Today we take the opportunity to say thank you.”
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2018 16:26 |
| Story ID: | 272367 |
| Location: | REDSTONE ARSENAL, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 100 years of service not enough for Cook family, by Eben Boothby, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
