AARON D. COX, CAPT, USMC

Aaron Cox '05

Date of birth: December 7, 1982

Date of death: May 5, 2009

Age: 26

Lucky Bag

From the 2005 Lucky Bag:

Aaron David Cox

Little Rock, Arkansas

There's an aggregation known throughout the country, always ready for a frolic or a fray. From their high and mighty station they are known throughout the nation, As the Mids from down in crabtown. Each year they sally forth to face the Army and turn the Army mule into a lamb, In the midst and scrimmage, you will see the busy image, of the spoiled and pampered pets of Uncle Sam, So 'round the ends and through the line we run, Show those grey legs how the deed is done; Navy Blue, we'll see you through, Here's How! To the Mids of the Navy Blue!

Aaron David Cox

Little Rock, Arkansas

There's an aggregation known throughout the country, always ready for a frolic or a fray. From their high and mighty station they are known throughout the nation, As the Mids from down in crabtown. Each year they sally forth to face the Army and turn the Army mule into a lamb, In the midst and scrimmage, you will see the busy image, of the spoiled and pampered pets of Uncle Sam, So 'round the ends and through the line we run, Show those grey legs how the deed is done; Navy Blue, we'll see you through, Here's How! To the Mids of the Navy Blue!

Obituary

From Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home:

Captain Aaron David Cox of the United States Marine Corps, died May 5 in San Diego, California. He was born December 7, 1982, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Jeanie Brown and Randy Cox. Capt. Cox was on a training flight when his Super Cobra, carrying live ordinance, crashed over the San Diego County highlands. At the time of the accident, Capt. Cox and another pilot, Capt. Jessica S. Conkling of Patton Township, Pennsylvania, who also died, were training for an upcoming deployment.
Capt. Cox was a 2001 graduate of Little Rock Central High School and a 2005 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. His personal decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. While at Little Rock Central High, Aaron was a member of the cross-country track team, the all-state swim team, and the Little Rock Lasers swim team. He was an enthusiastic participant in the youth group at St. James United Methodist Church, and reveled in the time he spent at Aviation Challenge in Huntsville, Alabama, during the summers.
Aaron is survived by his parents, his sister, Miriam Cox, his maternal grandmother, Velma Cormier Brown, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Also surviving Aaron are the friends he collected throughout his life. Wherever he went, Aaron met people with an easy smile and an open heart. He will be remembered for the kindness, honesty, loyalty and devotion he gave freely and consistently to his family, friends and country, and for a wisdom beyond his years. In addition, The Cox family would like to recognize Erica and Tom Kelly, and their children, of Annapolis, Maryland, for sponsoring and loving Aaron during his years at the U. S. Naval Academy and beyond.

From The Los Angeles Times

The Marine Corps has identified the two Super Cobra pilots who were killed when their helicopter crashed Tuesday night in a mountainous part of eastern San Diego County.
The Marines were identified as Capt. Jessica Conkling, 27, of Centre, Pa., and 1st Lt. Aaron Cox, 26, of Pulaski, Ark.
The two were on a night training mission when the attack helicopter crashed in the Cleveland National Forest.
Conkling and Cox were assigned to fly with the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station-based Medium Helicopter Squadron 166.
They were training for an upcoming deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit 11 based at Camp Pendleton.

Aaron is buried in the Naval Academy Cemetery; he has a joint memorial with the other pilot in Arlington National Cemetery.

Remembrances

From the Naval Academy Alumni Association's "In Memoriam" page:

A super friend who embraced all of life enthusiastically and unconditionally, inspiring others to 'Follow me!' The Cox Family

From an email on November 22, 2019 from Mathison Hall '03, who served with Aaron in TBS:

He was a classic great guy to be around. He was a middle-of-the-pack type of guy at TBS, and loved sudoku. He was also one of those guys who made any story he was telling, however mundane, hilarious. I’ll never forget the story he told me of a disastrous first date.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz: "Graduated Little Rock Central High School in 2001. NHS 11, 12; Beta Club 11,12; Latin Club; Young Democrats; Swim Team 10, 11 Co-Cpt., 12 Cpt.; Cross Country 12. Voted: Best Personality."