Warren C. Cook Sr. is an important man. He has done many good things for the region and the state and built his reputation as an entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist and adviser to the governor.

He is also a liar and a charlatan.

He lied about having a master’s degree. He lied about being a member of the 1968 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. And, worst of all, he lied about being awarded the Navy Cross as a Marine in Vietnam.

Following a progression of denials, reversals and excuses, Cook finally admitted that he had lied. He resigned from his job as a vice president of government relations and special projects at the Jackson Laboratory.

The Navy Cross, along with the Army Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Force Cross, is the second-highest award given by the U.S. military. It is awarded for exceptional heroism in combat.

You can purchase a Navy Cross on the Internet for about $50. But a real one is bought on the battlefield. It’s paid for with sacrifice, bravery in the face of the enemy and, too often, blood. Fewer than 400 Navy Crosses were awarded to Marines during the Vietnam War. At least 139 were awarded posthumously.

As difficult as it is to believe, phonies and frauds claiming to have been heroes in Vietnam and other wars turn up pretty often. In the book, “Stolen Valor: How the Vietnam Generation was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History,” B.G. Burkett and Glenna Whitley document fraudulent claims and expose those who would steal the bravery of others. By his actions, Cook has joined a dishonorable group that would appropriate the valor of others for their own benefit. It’s shameful.

Originally, we were angry at Cook. That anger has been replaced with sadness – sadness for the man and his family, sadness for the people whose trust he has violated, but mostly sadness for the veterans he has insulted.

Cook owes them an apology and should make amends.

Cook has considerable talent and skills. He should put them to work as a volunteer with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars or other veterans’ groups, if they’ll have him.


History’s sake


Shades of Watergate in Auburn?

We doubt it, but news that the tape recording of a heated and controversial public meeting of the City Council is blank gives the conspiracy theorists among us plenty of grist for the mill.

Councilman Bob Mennealy, after calling for an investigation of City Manager Pat Finnigan, faced a public flogging at the hands of the mayor and other council members. The audio records of the embarrassing exchange were somehow destroyed and a description of the argument was omitted from meeting minutes. Since the discovery of the blank tape, which was supposed to be the official transcript of the night’s events, the information has been added to the minutes.

The spirit of Richard Nixon is not being channeled by Auburn’s leadership. A new recording system was installed Monday in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the fiasco.

But this affair should remind us all how important it is to preserve the historical record of government activities and how important public access to those records is. Government officials have an obligation to conduct their business in the open and to take every reasonable effort to maintain records of their activities.
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