YAKIMA, Wash. — Sgt. Jason C. Cook, 25, was killed in action last Saturday in Iraq’s Anbar province, according to his family and military officials. He had joined the Marine Corps in October 1997, a few months after graduating from Okanogan High School.

Cook’s mother and stepfather, Cheryl and Del Miles, live in Yakima. Family members gathered at his parents’ home Wednesday to grieve.

“There just wasn’t anything Jason wouldn’t do for you. He was right there for you,” Del Miles said.

Cook met his wife, Yovana, at a party while he was assigned to guard the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia. They were married for two years, but spent only eight months of that time together because of his military assignments.

As the officer in charge of his squad’s armored vehicle, Cook named the vehicle after his wife, relatives said.

An anti-tank assault guided missileman based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Cook was assigned to the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

His awards included the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Cook was on his second deployment to Iraq.