The Everyday Patriot Project

  Master Chief Machinist Mate Ira Russell "Mack" McCurry was born on August 25, 1939, in McGehee, Arkansas.   He enlisted in the US Navy on February 20, 1955, and served throughout the Vietnam War aboard the USS Josephus Daniels. MMCM McCurry retired from the US Navy on February 25, 1975. After retirement from service, MMCM McCurry joined the Salem, Virginia police department and, on February 29, 1976, while investigating an automobile burglary, was fatally shot. He rests at Sherwood Burial Park in Salem, Virginia. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here* ****** ********************************* a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller living in Salem, Virginia.  In addition to her travel writings at  www.takethebackroads.com , you can also read her book reviews at  www.riteoffancy.com  and US military biographies at  www.everydaypatriot.com Her online photography gallery can be found at  shop.takethebackroa...

Lieutenant Commander Barry Thomas Cooke was born on June 27, 1955, in Waxahachie, Texas. He graduated from McCallum High School in Austin, Texas, in 1973. He went on to the Aviation Technological University in Kileen, Texas, earning a Bachelor of Science in Aviation. Lieutenant Commander Cooke then attended the Naval Aviation School in Pensacola, Florida.  He served in naval stations in Texas and Washington state, as well as two carriers, the USS America and the USS Enterprise, before being assigned to Naval Station Oceana with the VA-36. Lieutenant Commander Cooke served as a flight instructor and deployed aboard the USS Kennedy for the first time to the Middle East.   Lieutenant Commander Cooke deployed to the Middle East again, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in December 1990. On February 2, 1991, the A-6E he was piloting was shot down by a surface-to-air missle.   Lieutenant Commander Cooke is still missing.   His memorial is at Arlington. * Read...