NAME:  Jackie Leon Cook       

    DOB:  14 Oct 46     

    POB:  Lake City, Arkansas

   BASD:  28 Apr 64   

Retired:  1 Jun 84    

Highest Rank attained:  MSG E8

Retired as SFC E7 (didn't want to

stay two more years because of 

family crisis).

  Here is a more recent photo of 

Jack, "vintage Jack" .. like good

wine, as he approaches 

  'double nickel' Click here.  

Is that an Elvis fan, 

  I see??? - Franco

From: "Jack Cook" <jcook@neark.com>
Subject:  Where's the First Shirt?
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 00:38:57 -0600

  From September, 1964 to March, 1965, I was assigned as the Admin Clerk to the 

Adjutant, HQ, 9th Logistics Command (B) at Camp USARTHAI, Korat, Thailand.  I 

recognized many of the structures in the aerial shot of Camp USARTHAI.  I visited

the Enlisted Club pictured and also the outdoor and remodeled theater, before it was 

situated in an enclosed structure.  Often, I would sneak into the chapel, as pictured 

behind the helicopters, to play boogie woogie on the church organ (after hours of 

course).  In the aerial photograph of Camp USARTHAI, the mess hall is the big "H" 

shaped building (in the middle left side).  Directly to the right of the messhall 

is a long building with a shiny roof on the lower portion.  That building was the 

PX and Johnny Gems.  Beneath the PX is a tennis court.  Directly to the left of 

the tennis court is a long building.  Going left on that same walkway, the next 

building was the Orderly Room for HHC, 9th Log Comd (B).  I received my first 

promotion to PFC E3 in that building.  Two weeks later, I was trimming the 

grass alongside that walkway as punishment.  I know that walkway very well.

    During that time, HQ Co, 44th Engr Bn (C) was located at Camp Friendship.  

I was Company Clerk, Supply Clerk, Mail Clerk and basic Gopher for HQ Co, 

44th Engr Bn from March, 1965 to October, 1965.  When you entered Camp 

Friendship on the bus from Korat (the back gate that went into Korat Royal 

Thai Air Force Base).  The engineers had a very big complex on the left hand 

side about 1/8 mile from the back gate.  Approximately 1/4 mile further into 

the base on the main road, HQ Co, 44th Engr Bn had two short rows of hootches, 

the First Sergeant's BEQ, parking lot and Supply Room.  The Supply Room ran 

lengthwise along the road with the entrance on the inside towards the parking 

lot and hootches.

    While I was Company Clerk, we set up some transient beds for the truck 

drivers running supplies for the 809th Engr Bn located up near NKP.  We also 

had a detachment of 28 men from the 538th Engr Bn.  The majority of our 

assigned personnel performed duties at the Facilty Engineer complex.

    I departed Thailand in October 1965 for assignment to Okinawa.  I 

returned to Thailand in September, 1966 assigned to USASTRATCOM Fac-BKK.  

In March, 1967, HQ, 29th Signal Group was expanding and opened a Long Lines 

Battalion in Korat.  I transferred from Bangkok to Korat in March, 1967.  

At that time, HQ, 44th Engr Group was located at Camp USARTHAI (the old 

9th Logistics Command compound).  I lived with my wife just down the road 

from that compound.



    I transferred to HQ, USARSUPTHAI in August, 1967 to take charge of the 

Officer Records Branch of HQ, USARSUPTHAI, Personnel shop.  Then from 

March to September, 1968, I was in charge of the Forward Processing Detachment 

in Bangkok.  My team and I met the planes at Don Muang Airport; took charge 

of all assigned personnel and put them in the hotel overnight.  After 

processing they were sent to there original assignments or directed to 

new assignments as changed.

    From September, 1968 until August, 1972, I did my part as a Recruiter 

in Michigan, a Warrant Office Flight Candidate (bad eyes) and personnel work 

in Texas and Vietnam.  I returned to Thailand and HQ, USARSUPTHAI in Bangkok 

in August, 1972 as the Assistant Manager of the Windsor Hotel.  In May, 1974, 

I transfered to JUSMAG/MACTHAI as Admin NCO for the ACofS, J1.  



  In November, 1974, I worked as a translator with the Foreign Area Specialist 

directly for the Chief, MACTHAI (Gen H. C. Aderholt).  We were located and 

performed liaison between Gen Aderholt and Gen Kriangsak Chomanan (Commander of 

the Royal Thai Army) at HQ, Supreme Command Forward in Bangkok.  Was deeply 

involved in negotiations with the US Embassy, MACTHAI, and Thai government during 

the retrieval of Military Assistance assets when Cambodia and Vietnam fell.

    I left Thailand, for the last time, in November, 1975...  My dream is to one day 

be able to return "home" again...    Click here for E-7 Promotion Photo at ACofS.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Jack Cook" <jcook@neark.com>
Subject: Duty Roster Page
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 23:53:06 -0600

Frank, YES! .... Please enter a page for me.  I will provide any additional info 

you may need.  Just let me know.

     I will look at the pictures you sent and take some notes for you as to what and 

who was where as I can recall.  1964 was a very long time ago.  I was just a kid.  I 

was 17 yrs old when I arrived in Korat the first time.  I think that I slept in my 

bed at the hootch less than a dozen times during my first tour.

    Also, the Lucky Seven was not the original occupant of the site where the Sri 

Patana Hotel is today.  To get to the Lucky Seven you had to turn left after you 

crossed over the railroad tracks where the three roads joined into one.  At the 

juncture where the three roads met to form one was located a Ice Plant.  We called 

this area the Ice Plant intersection.  From the Ice Plant, turn left.  After about 

1/8 mile, the road did a slow curve to the right, up ahead on the left was a train 

depot with a old engine statued in front (this old engine was best known for having 

wrecked and killing dozen of individuals).  

  Just before reaching the train depot, there was an opening between the buildings 

along the road on the right hand side.  The Lucky Seven was located in a compound at 

this entrance.  Further down the road past the train depot on the right hand side was 

a Wat.  It was at this Wat that I received a blessing, bath and buddhist symbols to 

take with me on my tour to Vietnam.  If anyone is interested, the story of "YaaMo" 

(the statue in the center of town) is also interesting.  Personally, I walked under 

the bridge that held "YaaMo's" house three times (and three times I returned to 

Thailand).

  That's another story ........... thanks, JACK

  Salute to all..