Marlin C. Cook

Service & Sacrifice

Marlin Curtis Cook was born on December 18, 1929, and called Vernon, Alabama, home. He enlisted in the United States Army and served with the Special Forces, eventually joining Detachment B-52, Project Delta, under the 5th Special Forces Group. To his family, he was known as Curtis, a man whose warmth and energy left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

In late January 1966, Project Delta was called upon to support Operation MASHER by inserting reconnaissance teams into the An Lao Valley of Binh Dinh Province. The valley had been under enemy control for years, with at least two North Vietnamese regiments in the area. SFC Cook was assigned to Recon Team CAPITOL, one of three all-American six-man patrols inserted on the evening of January 27, 1966.

On January 29, RT CAPITOL came under intense enemy fire. SFC Cook, serving as the team's radio operator, was struck in the initial burst and paralyzed from the waist down. Though unable to reach the radio himself, he directed his teammate to cut it free so the team could call for assistance. Despite his catastrophic injuries, Cook remained conscious for several hours as the battle raged around his position.

The team leader called airstrikes directly on the team's own position to prevent being overrun. The fighting was at extremely close range. SFC Cook died of his wounds during the afternoon. He was 36 years old. His body was recovered by a Delta reaction force that fought its way to the beleaguered team.

Four members of RT CAPITOL were killed that day. Only two survived. The An Lao Valley engagement, designated Operation 2-66, was the worst single loss Project Delta suffered during the entire war.