Lt. General Howard H. Cooksey

Howard Harrison Cooksey, retired Army lieutenant general and decorated combat veteran of three wars, died December 22, 1999, of vascular disease at The Fairfax retirement community, Ft. Belvoir, Va. He was 78 years old.

General Cooksey, born in Brentsville, Va. and raised in Manassas, was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research Development and Acquisition at the Pentagon when he retired in 1978. His combat duties as an Infantry officer were with the 158th Regimental Combat Team in the Philippines in World War II, with the 7" Infantry Division in the Korean War, and Vileral officer, with the Americal Division and the First Regional Assistance Command inas a Vietnam. He qualified as a paratrooper in 1958.

Other military assignments were with General Douglas MacArthur's Honor Guard in the Japanese occupation and with the Second Battle Group, 6" Infantry Division, in Berlin. He was also assistant professor of military science at Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, and commanding officer, Ft. Dix, N.J.

For ten years following his retirement, Gen. Cooksey was president of the Cooksey Corp, a military consulting firm based in Alexandria, VA. He was also a senior associate with the Association of the US Army.

Cooksey owned and operated two farms near Independence, VA. for 12 years. In 1986 he relocated to Berryville, VA, where he served on the Clarke County Planning Commission for four years. He was also president of the Lions Club of Clarke County, Chairman of the Board of Grafton School (for the autistic), volunteer driver for FISH of Clarke County, and a member of the Shenandoah Valley Chapter of The Retired Officers' Association.

A 1943 graduate of Virginia Tech, he earned a masters degree in foreign affairs from George Washington University in 1964. He served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association for 10 years.

An active Episcopalian, he served as Treasurer of the Church of the Epiphany in the District of Columbia. He also served on the vestries of Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria, Grace Church, Berryville, VA, and St. John's, Arlington, VA.

General Cooksey's military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with V and oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with 28 oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Purple Heart.

Surviving are his wife of 53 years, the former Althea Hooff, a son, Paul Hooff Cooksey of Alexandria, a daughter, Allison Cooksey Hyland, of Annapolis, a sister Carolyn Cooksey Baker of Falls Church, and six grandchildren.

Friends may call on Sunday, January 2, two to four o'clock, Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA. A funeral service, with full military honors, will be held January 3, 2000, at 11a.m. at the Old Chapel, Ft.Myer, VA, followed by burial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Donations may be made to Grafton School, PO Box 1300, Stephens City, VA 22655