First Name: Thomas

Last Name: Cook

Middle Initial:

Year of Birth: 1949

Sex: Male

Martial Status: Married

Number of Children: Yes

Home Town: Toms River, New Jersey

Education Completed: Not Sure

Other Occupations:

Branch of  Service: Marines

Highest Rank: Cpl.

Serial Number: N/A

Platoon: N/A

Age at Start of Service: 19

Years of Service: 4

Combat Veteran: Yes

Time in Combat: Not Sure

Place of Combat: N/A

Awards:

Date of Suicide: 1984

Suicide Method: gunshot to head

Veteran’s Story: I worked with Tom Cook for about two years as a Dept. of Defense police officer. Tom seemed to have a hard time with his wife and family and mother-in-law who was living with him. At times he would tell me that he wished he could live life the way it was. I believe he never left Vietnam in his head because he always talked about dreams he kept having about Nam. One day he locked himself in his basement and started drinking. When the police came after being called by his wife, he just stated that he was tired and shot himself in the head.

Submitted By: Gary Parker

Relationship to Veteran: Friend