HAIFA, Israel –
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) departed Haifa August 5, 2019, after a scheduled port visit to participate in the Israel-led event exercise Mighty Waves 2019.
The ship’s presence in the Mediterranean Sea is a demonstration of the U.S. Navy’s continued commitment to collective security with regional partners.
“Donald Cook’s successful port visit to Haifa shows our commitment to our allies here in Israel,” said Cmdr. Kelley T. Jones, the commanding officer of Donald Cook. “Haifa is a port we haven’t visited since last year, so this was a first for many of our Sailors. Exercise Mighty Waves will also be a great experience for our Sailors. We hope to learn from our allies from Israel, Greece, and France.”
Donald Cook hosted a media tour while in port, in conjunction with naval exercise Mighty Waves.
“The crew of Donald Cook loves visiting Haifa and we want our new Sailors to be able to experience the culture of our allies,” said Jeremy Douglas, the Command Master Chief of the Donald Cook. “Being here in Haifa allows us to accomplish that, by trying new foods, meeting new people, and experiencing the beautiful culture of Israel. Learning about our allies helps us work and understand them when we work together in exercises like Mighty Waves.”
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests, security, and stability in Europe and Africa.