USS Cook (FF-1083)

• Namesake: USS Cook (FF-1083) was named after Lieutenant Commander Wilmer P. Cook, a naval aviator killed in action during the Vietnam War and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. • Class: It was a Knox-class frigate, designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) during the Cold War. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on December 18, 1971, at the Todd Shipyards in Los Angeles, California. • Vietnam War Service: USS Cook participated in operations off the coast of Vietnam, providing naval gunfire support and carrier escort duties. • Rescue Operations: In 1975, during Operation Frequent Wind, Cook helped evacuate refugees from South Vietnam as Saigon fell. • Modernization: In the early 1980s, Cook received upgrades to her sonar and weapons systems, including the installation of the LAMPS Mk I helicopter system for enhanced ASW capability. • Pacific Deployments: USS Cook regularly deployed to the Western Pacific, conducting joint exercises with allies such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia. • Blue Nose Ceremony: The ship and her crew earned the "Blue Nose" distinction after crossing the Arctic Circle on a northern deployment. • Decommissioning: Cook was decommissioned on April 30, 1992, after over 20 years of service and was later transferred to Taiwan where she served as ROCS Hai Yang (FFG-936). • Legacy: The ship's crest and memorabilia are displayed in museums and naval reunions, honoring both her service and her heroic namesake.