USS Cook (APD-130)

USS Cook (APD-130) was a Crosley-class high speed transport of the United States Navy, named after two brothers: Second Lieutenant Andrew F. Cook, Jr. (1920–1942) and Sergeant Dallas H. Cook (1921–1942). Both served in the Marine Corps, and both were awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously.

Cook was laid down at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan on 7 May 1944 and partially completed as a Rudderow-class destroyer escort with the hull number DE-714. A month before launching, on 17 July 1944, it was decided that Cook would be completed as a high-speed transport, with the designation APD-130. She was launched on 26 August 1944, sponsored by Mrs. A. F. Cook, mother of Second Lieutenant Cook and Sergeant Cook. She was commissioned on 25 April 1945, at the Todd-Johnson Dry Dock Company in New Orleans, Louisiana, with Lieutenant Commander D. N. Hamilton, USNR, in command.

1945–1946
Cook sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on 19 June 1945 for San Diego, arriving there on 2 July for training. On 20 September, she arrived at Tokyo carrying men of the Underwater Demolition Teams. After transporting troops to Okinawa, Cook reconnoitered and landed UDT 20 at Hakodate, Hokkaidō before its occupation on 27 September. She sailed home from Yokohama by way of Guam, Eniwetok, and Pearl Harbor, to San Diego, arriving there in 13 November. After repairs, she spent the month of January transporting troops along the west coast. Cook was placed out of commission in reserve on 31 May 1946, berthed at San Diego.

1953–1969
Cook was recommissioned on 6 October 1953, and took part in training and landing exercises off San Diego. She entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard for conversion to an APD flagship between 28 November 1953 and 15 March 1954, and continued training operations out of San Diego until 19 November, when she sailed for the Far East. After participating in amphibious exercises on the west coast of Korea, she operated from 21 January 1955 to 19 May as flagship for "Operation Passage to Freedom", the evacuation of refugees from North Vietnam.

Cook returned to San Diego on 12 June 1955, and sailed in various landing and training exercises as primary control vessel or anti-submarine ship. In November, she joined in a combined amphibious operation with Canadian forces. Local operations off California, including a period of service as a submarine target vessel, continued until 21 March 1956, when she sailed to Kauai, Hawaii, for an amphibious exercise in which she served as control vessel.

Cook returned to San Diego on 23 April 1956 for maintenance anti-submarine exercises, and public orientation cruises, until 22 August 1957, when she departed for a tour of duty in the western Pacific based at Yokosuka. She stood by off Borneo during the Indonesian crisis from 14 to 22 December. Back home in San Diego on 10 April 1958, Cook participated in operations along the west coast, including major interservice exercises, and between 13 October 1959 and 29 April 1960 cruised in the Far East once more. Returning to the United States, Cook operated along the west coast for the remainder of 1960.

Cook made three cruises to Vietnam between 1966 and 1969, carrying underwater demolition teams.

Cook was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 November 1969, and sold for scrapping on 24 July 1970, to National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island, California.

Awards

 * American Campaign Medal
 * World War II Victory Medal
 * Navy Occupation Service Medal
 * National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star
 * Vietnam Service Medal with seven campaign stars
 * Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal