USAREUR Honors Fallen CSM Cooke with Conference Room
NCO Journal
June 6, 2013
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German and American guests gathered May 1 at the conference room to remember the sacrifices of Command Sgt. Maj. Eric F. Cooke, who was killed when his vehicle struck an explosive device on Christmas Eve 2003 north of Baghdad, Iraq.
Cooke was serving as the senior noncommissioned officer of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, based in Friedberg, Germany, at the time of his death. After his death, hundreds turned out to pay their respects at memorial services in Iraq and Germany. A decade later those who knew the influential NCO leader are still finding ways to salute his legacy.
“For all of us who served with Command Sgt. Maj. Cooke, he is the epitome of an NCO,” said Brig. Gen. Mike Bills, U.S. Army Europe’s G-3. “He is a role model for Soldiers and leaders today and always.”
Doyle, who commanded Troop A of the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, when Cooke served as command sergeant major for 1-1st Cavalry, said at that time Bills, was the squadron commander.
“There is a significant population of Soldiers who served under that command team in the G-3 and USAREUR today,” Doyle added.
At the May 1 ceremony in Weisbaden, guests gathered once again to remember Cooke during the dedication of the CSM Cooke Conference Room.
It is the second dedication for the fallen NCO leader in Wiesbaden. In 2010, Building 1638, one of the Training Support Center facilities on Clay Kaserne, was likewise named in his honor.
Karl Weisel of USAG Weisbaden contributed to this report.”
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