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Proud to Serve
FORT CARSON, Colo -- “What made me emotional was seeing my grandparents just grinning from ear to ear, waving their hands while we were flying by their houses,” said Capt. Alicia Cook, Troop Commander with 6th Attack Reconnaissance Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
Cook was on a mission in early November to transfer an AH-64 Apache helicopter from Fort Campbell back to Fort Carson. She made it her mission to fly a transfer flight through Nebraska to give her family a glimpse of her in flight.
“None of my family have seen me fly an Apache,” Cook said.
Her first stop was in Lincoln, Nebraska, where her parents greeted her. They were proud to witness her landing the helicopter.
“Her taking time to stop in Lincoln, Nebraska, to see her family just shows how much love she has for us, and it fills you with pride to know that you’re still in her mind when she’s doing her job,” said her father, Corey Cook, who also served in the Army, beginning his military career with the 1-167th Cavalry in the Nebraska National Guard in 1991 and retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2012.
Her second and final fuel stop in Nebraska was met by her grandfather who retired from the U.S Air Force as a pilot instructor.
“Flying 1,000 feet over my dad’s house and three of my grandparents’ houses was such an awesome experience,” Cook said. “There was definitely a massive sense of pride and just excitement that they get to be a part of that and see what we do.”
The lineage of service members in the Cook family dates back to World War II where her great-grandfather was a surgeon in the U.S. Navy during the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Today, Cook is joined by her three siblings who also serve as officers in the Army.
“Seeing that she followed in my footsteps along with her three other siblings makes me proud,” Mr. Cook said.
Mr. Cook set an example for his children of how to serve one’s nation with pride. He never pressured his kids into serving. His actions alone were enough to guide them toward bright futures in the Army.
“I was ultimately raised to respect the country and respect the people. I always thought serving was something I were supposed to do,” said Mr. Cook.
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| Date Taken: | 11.30.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 12.07.2021 18:52 |
| Story ID: | 410160 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 38 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Proud to Serve, by SPC Brenda Salgado Morales, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
