Richard M. Mccool Jr.

of Bainbridge Island, died peacefully of natural causes at Harrison Hospital, Bremerton, on the morning of March 5, 2008, with his wife and children at his bedside. A retired navy captain, Capt. McCool and his wife Carole Elaine, (married in 1945,) settled on Bainbridge Island when he retired from the navy in 1974.He was born in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, January 4, 1922, of Betty Fulton McCool and Richard M. McCool. He graduated from the U. of Oklahoma in 1941 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, and from the Naval Academy in 1944, entering active service in the Pacific as CO of the LCS(L)122. He was badly wounded in an encounter June 10 and 11, 1945, off Okinawa and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for valor and bravery by President Harry Truman. He subsequently saw service in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.He obtained a Master's of Science Degree in Public Relations from Boston University in 1955. He served on the staff of several fleets and shore stations and did tours of duty in Thailand and Japan. Upon retirement he became active in local Democratic Party affairs and served two terms as Chair of the Kitsap County Democratic Party. He also, along with Mrs. McCool, spent great amounts of time in volunteer work for the Bainbridge Island Unitarian Fellowship, two Seattle theaters and the Olympic Music Festival Capt.McCool is survived by a daughter, Carolyn McCool of Vancouver, BC, Rick McCool and his wife Cindy, of Gig Harbor, John McCool and his wife Mary, of Kitsap County, and his grandchildren Michael James, Cristin, Shana, Kate and Nicholas, his sister Fran Terry and numerous nieces and nephews. Cremation has been performed by the Cook Family Funeral Home.The Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Seabold United Methodist Church, 6894 NE Seabold Road, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110. Full military honors will follow with a reception in the church hall.Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home.McCool Remembered as Hero, Democratic Leader....Read hereBy Ed Friedrich from the Kitsap Sun. Photo Courtesy of Nick Del CalzoMonday, March 10, 2008