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National Commander |
 Henry J. Cook, III
Henry Cook was elected National Commander in 2007 after serving over fourteen years
with MOPH, gaining invaluable experience while in the positions of National Aide-de-Camp,
Chapter Commander, Region Commander, National Junior Vice Commander and National
Senior Vice Commander.
He was a career Special Forces (Green Beret) officer for thirty-three of the total
forty-two years that he was on combined active and reserve duty. His combat tours
began in 1967-68 when he operated behind enemy lines in for extended periods of time
conducting operations with native guerrilla troops.
He saw additional combat in 1969-70 when he led a U.S. Special Forces Mobile Strike
Force Battalion, consisting of Green Beret officers and sergeants leading Cambodian
mercenaries, again working
behind enemy lines as well as reacting to attacks on friendly bases, often requiring
that his unit be parachuted into hostile drop zones.
Later, he participated in Desert Shield (Saudi Arabia),
Desert Storm (Kuwait) and Iraq, and Operation Provide Comfort (Support to Kurdish refugees in
Northern Iraq.
For his valor and military skills, Colonel Cook was awarded the Bronze Star Medal
with “V” device for Valor and two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with
“V” Device and one Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnamese
Cross of Gallantry with Gold and Silver Stars, Joint Services Commendation Medal,
Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Combat Diver Badge,
Special Forces Tab, and numerous other U.S. and foreign decorations.
Henry Cook is now twice retired, as a soldier and as a lawyer and resides in
Diamondhead, Mississippi where he maintains a small law office.
He is a member of the Pro Bono Consortium representing veterans who appeal
denial of claims and is a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims.
He’s been a member of the Mississippi Bar Association
since 1978 and also serves as a Municipal Judge
Pro Tem in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Other significant contributions to veterans by Henry Cook include: a major role
in the creation of the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Ocean Springs and
helping raise over $500,000 to help MOPH members in Louisiana and
Mississippi who lost everything during Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to MOPH, he also belongs to Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled
American Veterans (DAV), Special Forces Association (SFA), and Special Operations
Association (SOA).
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