LtCol Cook was a CH-53D Sea Stallion pilot. With Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, he participated in Operation Eagle Pull (the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia), and Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam) in April 1975; and as a pilot in Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 during 1978-1981, he participated in Operation Eagle Claw (Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission) in April 1980; and other operations and exercises during his career. He was a good stick, a good friend to many, and a good Marine.
S/F
BJ Sigman

Lt. Col. Larry Gene Cook, decorated officer and pilot for the United States Marine Corps, passed away at his home in Emerald Isle, early in the morning of Nov. 29, 2012, after a hard fought battle with cancer.
He was born on July 17, 1947, in East St. Louis, Ill.
Mr. Cook served in the United States Marine Corps as a pilot and retired in 1995, with 24 years of service to his country. After his Marine Corps service he worked for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He was a member of Emerald Isle Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne C. Cook.
Surviving are his mother, Betty J. Cook of Belleville, Ill., his loving wife of 32 years, Elaine P. Cook; three daughters, Kathryn Podgorny and Jennifer Villacis, both of Chicago, Ill., and Kelly Cook of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; two sons-in-law, Robert Podgorny and Ricky Villacis; and four grandchildren, Giovanni, Asher, Lydia, and Zachary. He is also survived by his brother, Gary Cook of San Miguel, Mexico; and his sister, Cathy Grandcolas of Belleville, Ill.
A wake was held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Jones Funeral Home in Swansboro. Inurnment was held at 10 a.m. Monday at Coastal Carolina Veterans Cemetery. A memorial service was held at noon at Emerald Isle Baptist Church with the Rev. Freddie Braswell officiating.