Norfolk, Va. — The guided-missile destroyer Cole steamed out of Hampton Roads this morning, kicking off a deployment to the Persian Gulf and Naval Forces Europe-Africa.
"Cole Sailors have worked tirelessly to prepare for deployment," said Cmdr. David P. Wroe, Cole's commanding officer, said in a statement released today by Surface Forces, Atlantic.
"The effort demonstrated over the last year is a testament to the strength and abilities of the entire crew. I am confident Cole is ready to support maritime operations across the globe," Wroe said.
The Cole is officially leaving as what the Navy calls an "independent deployer," even though the ship worked up in parallel with the carrier George H.W. Bush strike group and at times operated together at sea this fall.
That level of familiarity, sources say, could come in handy in the coming months. The Bush is slated to deploy in mid-January to the same parts of the world and it's possible the ships could cross paths during their respective deployments.
According to the release, "Cole is deploying as part of the ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations and operate in international waters across the globe, along with other maritime forces."
The ship last deployed on Aug. 22, 2014, and spent the deployment supporting ballistic missile defense and other national security interests in Europe as part of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. She returned to Norfolk March 15, 2015.
The ship was commissioned June 8, 1996, and is named for Marine Sgt. Darrell Samuel Cole, who received the Medal of Honor for his "conspicuous gallantry" at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.
The Cole became a rallying cry for many after the ship was attacked in Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000, killing 17 and injuring 39 crew members. Though seriously damaged and out of action for nearly two years, the Cole returned to the fleet in 2002.
Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.
