Department of Defense

Brigadier General Irwin K. Cockett Jr. is a native son of Hawaii, having been born on the island of Kauai on August 24, 1930. His is an alumnus of Roosevelt and Kamehameha High Schools.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in November, 1949 and began 36 years of service to his country and state. He served as an infantryman with the distinguished 5th Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War from 1950- 1951.

Upon graduation from Officers’ Candidate School in August 1952, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. Subsequent assignments included tours with the original “Green Beret” unit: the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Bad Tolz, Germany. Other key command and staff assignments include duty with the 25th and 1st Infantry Divisions; U.S. Army Ryukyus Command; Department of the Army Regional Representative to the Federal Aviation Agency – Western Region; United. States Army Pacific; Commander I Corp Aviation Company and the Operations Officer of the 17th Aviation Group.

General Cockett served three combat tours in the Republic of Vietnam (June 1962 – January 1968) where he distinguished himself as a helicopter gunship pilot and leader of the “FANGS.” His decorations include the Silver Star awarded to him by the U.S. Marine Corps, one award of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, three awards of the Bronze Stars, four awards of the Purple Heart, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, twenty-two awards of the Air medal, two awards of the Army Commendation medal, two awards of the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star, and numerous service and campaign medals. General Cockett wears the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Master Aviators Wings, Senior Parachutists Wings and Special Forces Tab.

In December 1970, General Cockett became the Army Advisor to the 29th Infantry Brigade, Hawaii Army National Guard. He retired from the Army with 22 years of active duty service in December 1971. He then joined the Hawaii Army National Guard in April 1972 as an instructor pilot and aviation safety officer. In September, 1977, he became the Staff Aviation officer and Commander of the Guards’ Aviation Support Facility at Wheeler Air Force Base. General Cockett served as such until December, 1982, when he was appointed as Chief of Staff, Hawaii Army National Guard. He was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Commander, Hawaii National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General, Army, State of Hawaii, in May 1983. He retired from the Guard in August 1986.

His military education includes Airborne Qualification Course, Fixed-Wing and Helicopter Qualification Courses, Infantry Advance Course, Command and General Staff College, National Defense University and the U.S. Army War College (SRCOC). His civilian education includes courses attended at the University of Maryland, Los Angeles Harbor College, Arizona State University and the University of Southern California.

His current and past affiliations include: Su, Regimental Combat Team-Korean War Veterans-Hawaii (President); Old Soldier Reunion Association (Chairman); Special Forces Association (member); Employer Support to the Guard and Reserves (past Executive Director); Civilian Advisory Group (member); Mamaka’AiAlo (member, past president); Waipuna Board of Directors (vice-chairman); Pacific American Foundation (Director); Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation (member); State Dedication committee for Korean and Vietnam Memorials (Chairman); Innovative Technical Solutions (Director); Cockett Ohana (Past President); 50th Anniversary of the Korean War commemoration Commission (Co-Chairman); Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on Minority Veterans (member).

General Cockett is married to the former Elizabeth Huddy of Honolulu. He has three daughters: Mylabeth, Yokette, and Punahele.

Last updated 1986

Awards

Irwin Crockett is one of the very few (only three identified to date) members of the U.S. Army in history, to be awarded the Silver Star by the U.S. Navy.

Silver Star

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING Vietnam War

• Service: Army
• Rank: Major
• Battalion: 14th Aviation Battalion

GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Navy Award) to Major (Infantry) Irwin K. Cockett (ASN: 0-1930924), United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as an Aircraft Commander with I Corps Aviation Company (Provisional), 14th Aviation Battalion, in the Republic of Vietnam on 14 May 1965. When a Marine Reconnaissance Patrol was under heavy fire by a numerically superior Viet Cong force, Major Cockett landed his UH-1 B helicopter under intense fire and evacuated five Marines, two of which were wounded, to the Marine Collecting and Clearing Company at the DaNang airfield. Major Cockett then returned to the area and again under heavy fire landed, placed his crew chief and gunner in firing positions on the ground, and on foot located other Marines and helped to load one Marine killed in action on the aircraft and successfully returned the Marines to the DaNang airfield. By his daring actions and loyal devotion to duty in the face of personal risk, Major Cockett upheld the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Distinguished Flying Cross

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING Vietnam War

• Service: Army
• Rank: Major
• Battalion: 14th Aviation Battalion

GENERAL ORDERS:

Headquarters, U.S. Army Vietnam, General Orders No. 33 January 3, 1966)

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major (Infantry) Irwin K. Cockett (ASN: 0- 1930924), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight. Major Cockett distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 5 July 1965, while serving as Pilot of an unarmed UH-1 B helicopter near Ba Gia, Republic of Vietnam. While his aircraft was escorting Marine helicopters on a rescue mission to evacuate eight Americans from an outpost surrounded by an estimated three Viet Cong battalions, Major Cockett monitored a radio call from another fire team that was receiving heavy automatic weapons fire about one mile west of Ba Gia. He immediately proceeded to the Viet Cong position, which was marked by red smoke, and directed his crew to place suppressive fire on the target. As his aircraft completed its first firing pass and turned left to make another pass on the target, it was hit by .5O caliber machine gun fire wounding the co-pilot. Although all instruments indicated the craft was incapable of further flight, and knowing that it might explode any minute, Major Cockett decided to maneuver the ship into the confines of Ba Gia outpost. The left rear of the fuselage began to burn and control of the aircraft became extremely difficult. At approximately 100 feet altitude and one fourth mile short of the landing zone control of the tail rotor was lost. At approximately 50 feet altitude the tail boom began to separate causing complete loss of directional control. The aircraft crashed and was engulfed in flames. Major Cockett immediately directed his crew to set up a perimeter of defense against a mortar and small arms attack. Later a Marine helicopter evacuated the crew and other Americans from the outpost. Through his sound judgment and professional skill in landing the disabled aircraft in a safe place, the lives of three crew members were saved. The heroic actions of Major Cockett were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.