Cook (FF 1083) - Naval Cruise Book

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tt THE SHIP The Cook was built in 1944 in tlu yards of the Defoe Shipbuilding Com- pany, Bay City. Michigan, and was named in honor of Lieutenant Andrew Fred Cook. Jr. and Sergeant Dallas Harry Cook, both of whom were killed in island campaigns in the Pacific and awarded the Navy Cross for their bravery and x ' lf-sacrifice. The Cook is 306 feet from jackstaff to flagstaff. She wa- lniill mi the liiill design of a destroyer escort and was originally DE-714 according to her blueprints. She is distinguished by her assault boat davits located on either side just aft oi licr stark. During peacetime she is manned l)y a crew of 150 men and 11 officers. For the job that has to be done, she has not a man to spare. Her |)riMic mission is the liigli speed trans|)ort of underwater demolition teams, raiding parties, and inall ti(iii|) iniil- In cncinN-hcld coastlines and the control f landing ( rail in aiii|)liilii(ui- lamlings. Secondaiy missions are anti-subinaiinc warlarc and gnnliic iip|iiirt. lin ln t()i includes a In id | arl in llic occupation of Japan as she was [] c first ]) )stwar American sliij) to cuter Hakodate Harbor. In January of 1947 she was formally placed in ina( live reserve status with the U.S. Pacific Reserve Fleet. Six and one half years later, in 19.S3. .she was Recommissioned and brought back into sei-vice as one of three .APD flagships on the West Coast. This conversion, completed at the famous Mare Island Shipbuilding Yard. San Francisco, enabled her to carry a staff of 1.5 troop officers and 69 troops. The Cook made a second trek to the Far East in llie later part of 195 1 ami participated in operation Passage to Freedom. a mass evacuation of some .300.000 Nortli Vietnamese people from communist control. The Third West Pac Cruise took place in the later months of 1957 and the fourth in 19.59. The Fifth West Pac Deployment was in the latter part of 1961 and early part of 1962. During this time Cook rescued 25 people from the SS Stanuac Sumatra after il had broken in half ulf the coast of Vietnam. This the Sixth West Pac Tour started laieh 26, 1963, and ended November 13. 1963.

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USSCOOK (APD-130) WEST PAC ' 63 CRUISE BOOK STAFF MACKEY. H. E.. RDl EDITOR ENS. A. S. WILLIAMS, ADVISOR ENS. L. D. THOMAS. BUSINESS MGR. HARDING. J. M., FN SALES RICKARD. A. R.. S0G2 PHOTO MARTIN, R. J.. HMl TYPIST WALDROP. 0. D.. E.M2 ART BARBER, G. M., IC3 ART HUNT. J. R.. YN2 WRITING WATSON, H. R., SA WRITING VOGE. T. .. FN GENERAL ASSISTANT

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COMMANDING OFFICER JACK R. GRIFFIN, LCDR. m K OUR CAPTAIN Lieutenant Commander Jack Ross Griffin was born in I.ono Bearli. California, on 25 October 1929. After graduation from I-ong Beacb Polv High School in ]947. he entered the University of Southern Cali- fornia where in 1951 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Having been enrolled in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Course at college, the Captain was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy on 16 June 1951. He was promoted to his present rank of Lieutenant Commander on the tirst of December. 1960. His colorful career has included varietv of duties from ASW Officer on his first ship, the USS COCK- REI.L (DE-366) to Executive Officer on the USS HAVEREIELD (DER-393). Prior to assuming conunand of the USS COOK (APD-130) on 11 March 1963. LCDR Griffin sei-ved as Officer in Charge of Guided Missile Unit 25 at the Naval Ordnance Test Station at Cliina Lake. California, until its deacti- vation in March of 1962 at wliich time he became responsible for all of the security at this Test Station, retaining this post until becoming Skipper of COOK. Once before from May 1954 until August 1954. COOK had the pleasure of having Lieutenant Com- mander Jack R. Griffin on board when he was attached to Staff, Commander Amphibious Control Squad- ron ONE. He sei -ved on COMPHIBCONRON ONE Staff from April 1953 to June 1953 on board the flag ships USS DIACHENENKO, from June 1953 to May 1954 on board USS Bass and then Staff transferring to COOK. Jack R. and Kathleen Elaine Griffin have six children. Michael Kevin. Jack Ross, Junior, Kelli Elaine, Deborah Eileen, Mariaimc Leigh and Carl Ivicliard who reside at 6522 Parkside Avenue in San Diego. California.