Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on August 28, 2004:

Ralph Cooper Born January 1, 1928 - Died March 8, 1993 Ralph "Gato" Cooper was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on 1 January 1928 and was appointed to West Point from the Army of the United States. His West Point classmates recall: "Overcoming an occasional spell of malnutrition, accompanied by weakness and constant spoon-feeding by classmates, Gato finally made his weight. After successfully completing four years of hard work, especially designed not to reduce weight, he's ready for the outside world. With graduation, marriage, and good cooking in the offing, he's off to surely successful military career." During his cadet days Gato was on the German Club yearling and cow years, on the Election Committee cow year, on the Forum and Glee Club first class year and was a Cadet First Sergeant his first class year. On graduation Gato went in the Air Force and after pilot training reported to Biggs AFB, Texas where he served from 1951 to 1952. He then went with the 3rd Bomb Group, 5th Air Force in Korea and served from 1952 to 1953. With the Korean War over he was assigned to the 97th Bomb Wing in 1953 and he served until he resigned his commission as a First Lieutenant. Returning to civilian life Ralph became a Contract Administrator for Texas Instruments until 1963 and then became the Manager for Marketing in Europe in 1979. Ralph died in Plano, Texas on 8 March 1993. Mrs. Ralph Cooper (Ann) makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Click on Air Force Values to understand fly boys. ufa

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