Cook: President of Rosenthal Chapter dies

Dale Cook, President of the USMCCCA, Joe Rosenthal Chapter, died Feb. 28 at the age of 92.

Dale Cook in 1946.

Dale Cook, President of the USMCCCA, Joe Rosenthal Chapter, died at his home in Brentwood, Calif., Feb. 28 at the age of 92. Cook is well known across Northern California for his seemingly tireless commitment to veterans’ causes and his pride in being a United States Marine. He was one of the few surviving Marines who invaded Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945, 74 years ago.

Services will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 500 Fairview Ave., Brentwood, Calif.
March 11: viewing at 4:00pm, Rosary 6:00pm, viewing 6:45-8:00pm.
March 12: funeral 1:00pm followed by internment at Union Cemetery in Brentwood, and a reception. Contact tom@tomgraves.com for more information.

Cook was also former President of the national 4th Marine Division Association of WWII veterans, and a member of numerous other veterans groups. At the time of his death the former newsman and public relations specialist led the Chapter’s effort to have a Navy warship named for Joe Rosenthal, who took the iconic flag raising photo on Iwo Jima.

Cook was born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and enlisted in the Marine Corps as a high school senior in 1944. He was assigned to the 4th Marine Division on Maui after the Division’s battles on Saipan, Roi-Namur and Tinian. The “Maui Marines” were taking on replacements and training for what would be their toughest battle, Iwo Jima, early the next year. Cook trained as a member of an 81mm mortar crew.

When the 18-year-old landed on the Iwo Jima he was promptly handed a BAR, or Browning Automatic Rifle—he was no longer a mortar-man. His Fox Company and the rest of the 23rd Marines were assigned to capture Airfield No. 1, which they quickly accomplished, though taking heavy casualties. But Cook said the fighting became even tougher after taking the airfield, as the Marines moved into the hills on the northern part of the island, where the enemy occupied heavily fortified and camouflaged positions. Those who know the history of Iwo Jima know the intensity of the bloody 36 days of fighting that left the Marines victorious, at the cost of 6,821 dead. Cook said every man in his squad—his best friends—was killed. Wounded by an enemy grenade, he was evacuated, first to a hospital ship and then to Guam. In 1945, still on Guam, he joined the VFW, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the first of his many veterans organizations.

He said he was happy he earned his Purple Heart “not on some forgotten island in the Pacific,” but on Iwo Jima, which has taken on a legendary status in the Marine Corps and a historic place in the history of WWII. Cook led an annual commemoration of the battle for many years, first at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, and then at the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco.

The former high school newspaper editor studied journalism on the GI Bill, then worked as a local reporter and photographer in Washington’s Three Cities area. While covering the news at the Hanford (nuclear) Site, he was recruited as the regional public information officer for the forerunner of the Atomic Energy Commission. Cook observed several atomic tests in the Nevada desert, where he had responsibility for managing and assisting the many members of the press. His work was carefully scrutinized by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, “father of the nuclear Navy,” who held a position on the Atomic Energy Commission. Cook said he had “no problems” working with the notoriously difficult Rickover, as he learned what the Admiral expected and was able to deliver it.

The Atomic Energy Commission brought Cook to the San Francisco Bay Area where he would spend the rest of his career and his retirement years. He joined the Army Reserve as the chief Public Information Officer of the 6th Army command at the Presidio of San Francisco, where he wore a Marine Corps 4th Division patch on his Army uniform. And although he retired from the Reserve with the rank of major, he always referred to himself as a Marine corporal.

For years he was a Boy Scout troop leader, taking his scouts on weeklong hikes along Sierra mountain trails, and summiting Mt. Whitney numerous times, and he was proud of the many Eagle Scouts his troop produced. When he rediscovered his Marine Corps history, he started raising English Bulldogs, the Marines’ mascot. He was also a sought-after dog show judge, traveling the country to major competitions. He returned to Iwo Jima three times as a civilian to attend the annual joint memorial service, held by the Marines and their former adversaries, and organized by Cook’s Fox Company commander, the late LtGen Larry Snowden.

Cook is survived by two daughters and two sons, and his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His wife, Mary, passed away in 2018, and Dale struggled in her absence.

One of his university professors “hypnotized all the veterans in the class,” wiping away their memories of combat. “I never thought about combat or the Marines again until I had open heart surgery (later in life). When I woke up, I couldn’t stop talking about it!” he said. His home library was a Marine Corps museum with military history books, maps, artifacts, photos and awards. Cook’s keen memory of details helped make him a featured speaker at many veterans and military events. He made his last presentation (on the USS Joe Rosenthal) just a few days before he died, one of his best, some in the audience said.

Tom Graves
Chapter Historian, USMC Combat Correspondents Association