USS Donald Cook (DDG-75)

• Namesake: USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) is named after Marine Corps Colonel Donald G. Cook, a Medal of Honor recipient who died as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for his extraordinary heroism and leadership. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on December 4, 1998, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is the 25th Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the U.S. Navy. • Homeport: In 2014, Donald Cook moved its homeport to Naval Station Rota, Spain, as part of the U.S. Navy’s Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E), enhancing NATO’s ballistic missile defense. • Black Sea Encounters: In April 2014, while operating in the Black Sea, USS Donald Cook was buzzed by a Russian Su-24 aircraft, an incident that made international headlines and underscored regional tensions. • Advanced Technology: The destroyer is equipped with the Aegis Combat System, SPY-1D radar, and is capable of launching Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-3 interceptors, and more. • Syrian Civil War Operations: USS Donald Cook participated in the U.S.-led missile strike against Syrian regime targets in April 2018, launching Tomahawk missiles in response to chemical weapons use. • Humanitarian Missions: The ship has participated in multiple multinational exercises and humanitarian missions, including search and rescue drills and partnership-building with NATO and allied navies. • Coat of Arms Symbolism: The ship’s crest features a trident, representing naval power, and a bamboo cross, symbolizing Donald Cook’s captivity in Vietnam. • Resilience Motto: The ship’s motto, “Faith Without Fear,” is drawn from Colonel Cook’s steadfast leadership and unbreakable spirit in the face of adversity. • Naval Exercises: USS Donald Cook regularly participates in major exercises like Sea Breeze, Joint Warrior, and BALTOPS, reinforcing interoperability between U.S. and allied forces in European waters.