NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class, guided missile destroyer, USS Cole (DDG 67) deployed from Naval Station Norfolk, Feb. 8 for a scheduled seven-month deployment to the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf area of operations.
The ship will conduct maritime security operations in the region, working with international maritime forces to ensure security and awareness in the maritime domain.
"The Cole is a wonderful ship. It has a great history and a lot of people associate the bombing with us," said Cmdr. Edward Devinney, Cole's commanding officer. "We honor the 17 Sailors that we lost, those heroes, and the nearly 300 that fought and kept the ship from further damage for four days. This crew has worked very hard over the past year for this deployment. We are ready to go and we are ready to answer our nation's calling."
Rev. Sandra H. Mull, grandmother of Cole Sailor, Seaman Thomas H. Dew, said they will keep the ship in their prayers during this deployment.
Cole is a 505-foot long ship with a crew of about 270 Sailors. The ship also contains a "Hall of Heroes" to honor the 17 Sailors who died during the terrorist attack in 2000.