Ozaukee County Guide

NORFOLK Va. - Navy Chief Petty Officer Joshua L. Datka, a 2000 Centennial Senior High School graduate from Port Washington, Wis., is serving on one of the world's most advanced warships, the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67). Datka is a master at arms aboard the Norfolk-based ship. "I am responsible for maintaining good order and discipline onboard Cole, as well as teaching all security forces onboard the ship," said Datka. Datka said he is proud of the work he is doing as part of the Cole's 270 plus-member crew, protecting America on the world's oceans. The men and women that make up the ship's company keep all parts of the destroyer running smoothly - this includes everything from washing dishes and preparing meals to handling weaponry and maintaining the gas turbine systems. "You can't pull into port without security forces so all the duty section needs to know how to provide security," said Datka. "Because unlike a big deck ship like carriers, everybody onboard this ship is responsible for security and it's not just one division or department responsible." Cole is an Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer and one of 62 destroyers in the Navy today. Cole is a multi-mission medium surface ship capable of sustained performance in anti-air, anti-submarine, anti- ship, and offensive strike operation. When deployed with a carrier strike group or expeditionary strike group, Cole, along with other AEGIS-capable cruisers and destroyers in the strike group, is primarily tasked with defending the fleet while providing secondary strike capabilities. The wide range of missions that Cole is capable of performing, and the ability of the ship to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world's oceans often makes them the first response to a global crisis. "The biggest challenge is working with other ratings and getting them into a security mindset making sure that they know how to protect and fight for the ship, to make sure nothing bad happens to it," said Datka. "Never the less it all comes around and everybody gets that mindset and they are all ready to fight for the ship." Datka knows that being onboard one of the U.S. Navy's most relied upon assets, he and the rest of the crew could be called upon to defend America at any moment. On October 12, 2000 al- Qaida attacked the Cole in a suicide mission while the Cole was refueling in Aden, Yemen. The ship has many reminders onboard of that attack including a hallway that has 17 permanent stars embedded in the floor. "The heritage this ship means a lot to me as a master at arms because when the ship was bombed in 2000 it made the big navy look at things," said Datka. "They determined that they needed a bigger master at arms force taking it from a couple hundred to well over 10,000." The attack ripped a 40 by 60 foot hole in the port side of the ship near the crew's dining and mess facility. Seventeen Sailors lost their lives and another 37 sailors were injured during the attack. Named in honor of Marine Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, a machine- gunner killed in action during World War Two, the ship is nearly 500 feet long. The ship is 66 feet wide and weighs more than 8,000 tons. Four General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, along with two shafts generating up to 100,000 horsepower can push the ship through the water at more than 30 nautical mph. Cole is scheduled to deploy later this year. More can be found on page 5. May 28, 2014 Ozaukee Guide Extra Value See Page 3 for Details May 30, 31 and June 1 Ozaukee Guide Recommends Newburg Fireman's Picnic See Page 7 For Details $200 Off Area Rugs 6/30/14. 238335126 Port Washington, Wis. native serves aboard USS Cole By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Taylor A. Elberg Navy Chief Petty Officer Joshua L. Datka

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