From Van’s Mother (via Heyward Sutherland):

Capt. Van Thomas Cook of Orlando, Florida was among 15 persons killed Sunday, September 26, 1976, in the crash of an Air Force KC135 tanker near Alpena, Michigan.

The plane was on a routine training flight from K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base near Marquette, MI to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE. Capt. Cook was a passenger and was to attend a SAC First Team Briefing at Offutt AFB.

Capt. Cook was born in Orlando, Florida on September 2, 1948. He was a graduate of Edgewater High School and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church or Orlando. He graduated from The Citadel and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force in May 1970. After completing Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, he served there as an Instructor Pilot in the T-37 before being assigned to the 410 Bombardment Wing at K. I. Sawyer AFB in 1975 as a B-52 Aircraft Commander.

Capt. Cook is survived by his wife, Donna Green Cook, son, Brian, 22 months old, and mother, Mrs. Winona Cook of Orlando Florida. Full military honors will be conducted in Glen Haven Memorial Park.

Notes:

Donna has remarried. Donna Heck. Van’s son lives in Cincinnati, OH where he is employed as an architect. Brian Cook Heck, 2233 Victor Street, Cincinnati, OH 45219

EDITORS NOTE: While at The Citadel, Van was a proud member of "N" Company. He was a Corporal, Staff Sergeant, and Captain Company Commander. Van was a Business Administration major, Chapel Usher, Denominational Group, and The Arnold Air Society.