Peter Everett Cook

Peter Everett Cook grew up in a large family in Dubuque. As a young man he enjoyed the local A&W restaurant, and according to his mother Cook wanted to return from Vietnam and work there. Peter Cook had six brothers, including a twin brother Paul, all served in the military during the Vietnam era. Peter and Paul Cook both joined the Marine Corps in September 1966. They both trained together and deployed together to South Vietnam. Once at Danang the two brothers parted ways and were assigned to two separate units. PFC Peter Cook was a machine gunner with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, with the 1st Marine Division. On April 10, 1967, less than a month into his tour, PFC Cook was severely wounded. A truck carrying napalm hit a mine, igniting the explosive material, wounding and burning 29 Marines including PFC Cook. He was evacuated to a military hospital in Japan where he died 12 days later. The 19-year-old’s body was escorted home by his twin brother and laid to rest at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque.