CTICS(SS) George Thomas (Tommy) Cox
George Thomas “Tommy” Cox passed away at age 80 on 19 February 2023 from Parkinson’s and kidney diseases. During his 20-year U.S. Navy career, Senior Chief Cox advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer and qualified in the Submarine Service. He served during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, and Cold War as a Field Operator for the National Security Agency (1962-75) and assignment to a Central Intelligence Agency Special Project team (1975-79).
His Navy awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, a Navy Achievement Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, eight Navy Unit Citations, two Meritorious Unit Citations, two Navy Expeditionary Medals, the National Defense Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a Rifle Sharpshooter Ribbon, and multiple Letters of Appreciation/Commendation
Subsequent to his retirement from the U.S. Navy, Tommy served as a Child Support Enforcement District Supervisor for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services in Aroostook County (1983-2003). He received a Distinguished Service Award and a Joint Maine Legislative Resolution honoring his service to the State of Maine. He also was employed in New London, Connecticut, four years for A&T Technical Services, Inc., in defense industry, and he worked two seasons as a Registered Maine Guide for Northern Hideaway guiding bear hunters. He thanks God for the miles, many not paved.
Tommy graduated from Caribou High School in 1960. He earned his Associate of Science Degree (Summa cum Laude) from Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth, Virginia (1972), and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Maryland (1975). Tommy also completed 39 semester hours of post graduate study at the University of Maine, Presque Isle and graduated from a myriad of Navy and State training courses.
Tommy was a life member of Post 9389 VFW in Caribou, the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USS Maine and Groton Bases), the Fleet Reserve Association, and the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. He was a member of American Legion Post 0136 in Stockholm, the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association, the National Rifle Association, the Fort Fairfield Rifle and Pistol Club, and the TKE Fraternity. He was a past secretary/treasurer of the International Police Combat Pistol Association and won designation as PPC Expert. He served two years on the Holy Rosary Parish Council and as was a member and chair of the Caribou Zoning Board of Appeals (1987-91).
Tommy’s passion was his music. He created a unique genre of music honoring the U.S. Submarine Service producing three albums of military music and one spiritual album; he wrote and published a book entitled “Tango Charlie” regarding his music. He sang professionally for fifty years.
“There is a port of no return, where ships may ride at anchor for a little space and then, some starless night, the cable slips, leaving an eddy at the mooring place. Gulls will veer no longer, Sailor, rest your oar, no tangled wreckage will be washed ashore.” (Lost Harbor)
Never quit! Dive, Dive! On Eternal Patrol! Resurgam!