FeedsVeteran honored as distinguished alumni
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Master Sgt. Jason E. CooperWhen students gather for commencement at John Glenn High School this year, the ceremony may have a patriotic flair.
That’s because the staff at the school has selected a decorated marine to receive the distinguished alumni award.
Jason E. Cooper, currently a master sergeant assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, will receive the honor, according to school officials.
Cooper was born and raised in Westland, attending Patchin Elementary School, Stevenson Junior High and John Glenn High School, where he graduated in 1990.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1994 and, after completing
basic training and follow-on training at School of Infantry – Marine Combat Training, he was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class. He was stationed in Quantico, VA where he went to school as a Computer Systems Specialist. He stayed in Quantico until 1998, when he was transferred to Naval Support Activity – New Orleans, LA.
While stationed in New Orleans, Cooper was involved in upgrading 187 geographically separated reserve sites across the country to modern communications standards.
In 1999 he was deployed to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of the NATO Stabilization Force, Combined Joint Civil Military Task Force where he was attached to the Refugee Reconnaissance Return Team, conducting security assessments of ethnically cleansed cities.
In 2001, Cooper was transferred to 3rd Marine Logistics Group, Okinawa Japan. He spent six years there, and was deployed to Thailand, South Korea, and the Philippians multiple times. He responded to the Tsunami Disaster of 2004, where he was deployed to Sri Lanka in the immediate aftermath to assist relief efforts.
In 2006, Cooper was forward deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the Multi-National Security Transition Command.
He has earned several awards, including: Joint Service Commendation Medal – 2nd Award, Navy Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal – 5th Award, National Defense Medal (2nd), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (7th), Humanitarian Service Medal, NATO Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation (3rd), Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2nd).
