PJCook Wins Gold at 2015 DOD Warrior Games!

Major Peter J. Cook, USMCR Retired, a native son of Springfield, NJ, graduate of Dayton High School, and local high school sports photographer (pjcook1.smugmug.com), returned home a winner from the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games for Wounded, Ill & Injured Servicemen and Servicewomen held from June 19 – 28. Major Cook earned a spot on the Marine Corps Team as one of 40 athletes competing against teams from the Army, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Team Great Britain.

In his disability category of upper extremity amputee, he earned a gold medal in the 50 meter Breaststroke, setting a new Marine Regiment record at 49.43 seconds. He also earned bronze medals in the 50 meter Freestyle and the 200 meter Freestyle Team Relay as well as placing fourth in the 100 meter Freestyle.

At 55, a non-combat injured, amputee, Major Cook felt fortunate to compete so well against so many fellow servicemen/women athletes who were significantly younger. He noted that there was a broad range of disabilities amongst the competitors. All showed tremendous heart and determination in their events, sometimes at great physical and mental cost. They may have been exhausted or totally spent at the end but he saw no one give up or quit. Showing the grit and determination that made each and everyone a member of America’s and Britain’s Finest no matter their service.

The 2015 Warrior Games were held at Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. This is the first year that the Department of Defense hosted the annual event which was previously run by the U.S. Olympic Committee and held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. The competition is for wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans. More than 200 service members and veterans participated representing the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Great Britain. The teams competed in seven sports: archery, cycling, shooting, sitting-volleyball, swimming, track & field and wheelchair basketball. The games are designed to introduce injured service members and veterans to Paralympic sport competition and encourage them to stay physically active when they return to their local communities following the event.

“Peter is a force to reckon with in the pool and on the firing line as he hones his skills and shatters the barriers of his perceived limits, emerging triumphant,” said Nathan Lynch, Semper Fi Fund Sports Coordinator.

Major Cook started his swimming career at the Springfield Pool as a member of the summer swim team at the age of seven and held titles in breaststroke for many years. He was encouraged to return to the pool this past year by his youngest son, York Cook, and continues to train at the Summit YMCA.

(In full disclosure, the author is the proud wife of Major Cook.)