User:EWC080921/Edward W. Cooke

Edward William Cooke (born August 9, 1921) is a retired three-star admiral in the United States Navy who commanded the USS Merganser, USS Cabezon, USS Harder, USS Skate, USS Abraham Lincoln, USS George Washington, Submarine Squadron Five in San Diego, and Submarine Flotilla One in San Diego, and served as the commander of the Nuclear Power Training Unit, the Navy’s Director of Budget, the Deputy Controller of the Navy, and the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations.

Early life
Edward William Cooke was born in Fonda, Iowa, on August 09, 1921, to Edward William Cooke and Mary Ann (née Mackey) Cooke, an Irish family. He was the fifth of six children: Mary, Henry, Rosella, Earl, Edward, and Francis. He attended Prairie Creek County School from 1926 to 1932, and graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School in 1936 at the age of 15. He then took courses in physics and algebra from the accredited Fonda High School and worked harvesting corn until he was old enough to gain an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He entered the Naval Academy in 1942.

Naval career
Cooke graduated in 1945 (Class of 1946) from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned an ensign. After completing a mandatory flight training course in Jacksonville, Florida, he reported for duty aboard the battleship USS Idaho off the coast of Okinawa. He was onboard the ship as it sailed into Tokyo Bay for the surrender of the Japanese in World War II.

After returning to the United States, Cooke immediately volunteered to return to the Far East. He spent the next two years in the Philippines as the commanding officer of the minesweeper USS Merganser.

In September 1947, Cooke reported for training at submarine school at Naval Submarine Base New London. He graduated number one in his class and received orders to Hawaii where he assumed command of the USS Cabezon. He was aboard this ship in the Philippines when the Korean War broke out. The submarine was ordered to Taiwan to protect that country from possible Chinese aggression.

In June 1952, Cooke reported back to Naval Submarine Base New London as an instructor. He taught engineering to the submarine students from 1952-1954.

Cooke next served as the Executive Officer on the USS Hardhead, before being selected by Admiral Rickover to be the first Commanding Officer of the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Idaho in April 1956.

In June 1958, Cooke was given command of the USS Harder. The command of a diesel submarine was a prerequisite to command of a nuclear submarine. A year later, Cooke was the Commanding Officer of the nuclear attack submarine USS Skate. In July 1960, Cooke reported as the Executive Officer aboard the nuclear missile submarine USS Abraham Lincoln. Two years later he was given command of the USS George Washington.

Cooke attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in June 1966. After completing his studies, he assumed the position of Executive Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Logistics) in Washington, D.C.. He used this two year assignment to both earn a Masters in International Relations from Georgetown University and complete the Advanced Management Program from Harvard University.

In December 1969, Cooke moved to San Diego to assume command of Submarine Squadron Five. One year later he was promoted to Rear Admiral and took command of Submarine Flotilla One. In 1971 Cooke received orders to the Pentagon where he served as the Director of the Budget for the next two years. In July 1974 he took over as the Deputy Controller of the Navy. In August 1975 Cooke was promoted to Vice Admiral and was the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics). Cooke retired from the United States Navy on February 28, 1978.

Awards
Cooke was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Personal life
Cooke married Bobbe Greaves on May 7, 1946, and together they had six children: Edward, Bruce, Terre, Ann, Patte, and David.