John B. Cook
Incident
Location: Ohio Weapon: Handgun Offender: Executed in 1865
Assistant Provost Marshal John Cook was shot and killed from ambush by two Army deserters who believed that he was going to arrest them.
The subjects had gone to Assistant Provost Marshal Cook's home in Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio, to locate him. Not knowing their intentions, his wife informed one of the men that he would be returning shortly. The subject went into the alley beyond his house where he encountered Assistant Provost Marshal Cook. As they greeted each other the subject pulled out a pistol and fatally shot him.
Both men fled the scene but were arrested several days later. They were both convicted of murder in a military court martial and sentenced to death. Both were executed by hanging at Camp Chase, Ohio, on September 6th, 1865.
Assistant Provost Marshal Cook was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Assistant Provost Marshal Cook was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
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Assistant Provost Marshal Cook served with the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Assistant Provost Marshal John B. Cook is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Army Criminal Investigation Division, 11 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John B. Cook's cause is highlighted.
How John B. Cook Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1865
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John B. Cook is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John B. Cook was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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