 USS Donald Cook returned to Naval Station Rota after a five-month deployment in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The crew conducted ballistic missile defense, maritime security operations, and participated in exercises with NATO allies. The crew also performed many new things during the campaign. We're closing out the patrol, which was a lot of firsts. First time in the Black Sea in the wintertime. First time a ship has gone up to the UK and conducted the flag officer sea training and then joint warrior. So it was a lot of firsts for Donald Cook and we're certainly happy to be back. The ship traveled to many places during the deployment as well. It's Romania, Bulgaria. Bulgaria was nice as my first time going there. It was kind of cold but it was a lot of fun. There's a lot of history in the town we went to. We went to Israel. It's beautiful everywhere you go there. It's truly an experience. And then when we came around at Fawcett & Jordan we went to England and then up to Scotland. And it was the first foreign English-speaking country I've been to. That was a really cool experience too. Although the patrol was difficult at times, the crew kept their resolve. The last five months was very challenging for the crew. However, they stepped up to the plate and as a varsity crew always does, they did outstanding. From Naval Station Rota, I'm Petty Officer Jordan Delgardo.