[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 166 (Wednesday, October 8, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING FRANK ESTEN COOK III AND HIS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM GRAVES

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 2025

  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Frank Esten Cook 
III and his service to his country. Frank was born in Washington, D.C. 
on March 25, 1963, and passed away in Richmond, Kentucky on September 
13, 2025. He was an avid outdoorsman, boater, and hunter.
  Frank was a U.S. Army veteran and served his country as a 
commissioned officer. His first love, however, was serving as a non-
commissioned officer as a Blackhawk helicopter Crew Chief with the 
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).
  In 1994, Frank was awarded Night Stalker Soldier of the Year for 
Outstanding Individual Contribution to Army Special Operation Aviation. 
This award was sponsored by Robertson Research Group, Inc.
  Frank was tough in every sense of the word, but he also cared deeply 
for his friends, family, and country. He would give you the shirt off 
his back, if you really needed it. He taught his family the value of 
being tough and rolling with what life gives you. He was fond of the 
saying ``rub some dirt on it, you'll be fine'', which carries weight 
with everyone who knew him.
  Frank took immense pride in being a Night Stalker. These men and 
women are some of the best rotary wing aviator crews in the world. 
Frank's attention to detail, his skills, and his tenacity drove him to 
join this elite regiment.
  Frank was very proud of both of his sons, Frank E. Cook IV (Frankie) 
of Jersey City, NJ and Anthony Guidi of Aloha. OR. As Frankie says, 
``My dad wouldn't want anyone to cry over him.'' So today Mr. Speaker, 
we won't cry over him but rather honor this man as a veteran, a father, 
a brother, a son, and an American.

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