USS Cole Returns Home

By Ensign Kerry Gablin, USS Cole Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Following a nine-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) returned to Naval Station Norfolk today marking the successful conclusion of her maiden Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) deployment.

The ship departed last April for the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. Cole is the fourth BMD-capable ship to deploy to the European theater as part of the Phased Adaptive Approach, the purpose of which is to protect European allies, partners, U.S. forces in the region, and the U.S. homeland against current and emerging ballistic threats.

While deployed, Cole achieved new records of success in equipment availability and mission readiness, being 100 percent operationally capable. Both Command Master Chief Larry Dean and Commanding Officer Cmdr. Peter K. Nilsen praised the crew's motivation and morale during the extended deployment.

"We're very blessed to have an outstanding crew who love what they do," said Nilsen. "They understand the commitment they've made and have done a great job over these nine months. I couldn't be more proud of what they've done."

"Our success is indicative of the hard work, training, ownership, and pride of our crew," added Dean. "Not only have they performed magnificently as a unit, but the individual accomplishments are equally outstanding with 85 Sailors earning their Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pins, over 88 Sailors advancing in rate, and eight new chief petty officers. There's a lot of history and pride on this ship, which isn't forgotten. Cole is not a museum; it's an active warship, and our crew honors its legacy by doing their jobs the best they can."

Cole is named in honor of Marine Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.