By , Navy
Office of Community Outreach
ROTA, Spain –
A Canyon
Springs High School graduate and Moreno
Valley, California native is
serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile
destroyer, USS Donald Cook.
Fireman Jose Barahona
is a damage controlman aboard the
forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer operating out of
Rota, Spain. Donald Cook is one of four
destroyers homeported in Rota.
A Navy damage controlman is responsible for keeping the firefighting equipment in good order,
conduct training that covers chemical, biological and radiological preparedness.
“The thing I like best about my job is working on the
'crash and smash,' which is made up of mostly engineers,” said Barahona. “We're there in
case a helicopter crashes and to cool any ordnance to prevent it from blowing
up.”
Commissioned
in 1998, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Donald Cook, is 509 feet long; the length of
more than 3 football fields. The ship is named after Donald cook, a Vietnam War
prisoner of war who died in captivity.
Donald Cook is a
tactical multi-mission surface combatant capable of conducting anti-air
submarine surface warfare in conjunction with being outfitted with aegis
ballistic missile defense capabilities.
BMD enables the ship to conduct long-range surveillance, tracking, and
engagement of short and medium-range ballistic missiles.
"Donald Cook is
Sixth Fleet's premier forward deployed unit with an extremely high operational
tempo," said Cmdr. Timothy Moore, commanding officer aboard USS Donald Cook. "My sailors continue to impress me with how hard they work, the
pride they possess and the dedication they show day in and day out in the execution
of their duties. Being able to command a ship with such a great group of
professional sailors is an enduring honor and a privilege."
Approximately
30 officers and 300 enlisted men and women make up the ship's company. Their
jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the cruiser running smoothly.
The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry and everything in
between.
“The thing I like best about serving on this ship is my
fellow shipmates,” said Barahona. “They're my
family away from home.”
Although it
is difficult for most people to imagine living on a ship, the challenging
living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew. The crew is highly
motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a busy life of
specialized work, watches, and drills.
As a member
of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Barahona and other Donald Cook
sailors know they are part of a legacy that will be last beyond their
lifetimes.
“For me, serving in the Navy is carrying on a family
tradition," said Barahona. "My cousin died in Iraq in
2007, so I feel that I'm carrying on where he left off. I want to give
back and honor his sacrifice.”