An Interview with Commander John Costello, U.S. Navy
Interview By Scott E. Belliveau
The commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), currently on station in the Red Sea and the first U.S. Navy ship to fire Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles to open Operation Iraqi Freedom, answered questions on 21 March 2003 from Scott E. Belliveau, representing the U.S. Naval Institute. Mr. Belliveau is director of communications for the Virginia Military Institute Foundation, former associate editor of the Naval Institute’s Proceedings and Naval History magazines, and former acquisitions editor for the Naval Institute Press.
Belliveau: You were in the Navy during the first Gulf War, but is this your first time firing shots in anger?
Commander Costello: I would not characterize our actions in either Operation Desert Storm or Operation Iraqi Freedom as "firing shots in anger." Both times, shots were fired reluctantly, as a last resort after all other means to resolve the issues had been exhausted.
During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, I was the operations officer on board the [guided-missile cruiser] USS Mobile Bay (CG-53). The Mobile Bay operated in the Northern Arabian Gulf (NAG) and served the air warfare commander for the four-carrier Arabian Gulf Task Force. In addition to air warfare duties, the Mobile Bay fired 23 Tomahawks [land-attack cruise missiles] and was the principal aircraft control unit (ACU) for all Armed Surface Recce [reconnaissance]/SUCAP [surface combat air patrol] operations conducted in the NAG, neutralizing or destroying 38 Iraqi vessels. While operating in the NAG, EOD [explosive ordnance disposal] detachments, temporarily embarked on the Mobile Bay, destroyed 13 Iraqi mines.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook launches one of its Tomahawk land attack missiles at military targets in Iraq
(U.S. NAVY/PATRICK REILLY).
The Donald Cook’s actions in the early morning hours of 20 March 2003, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Red Sea at time-sensitive targets in Iraq, was an action of last resort when all other means to free the people of Iraq from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein had failed.
Belliveau: You were with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) battle group in the Eastern Mediterranean until a few days ago. What were your thoughts when you were ordered to move to the Red Sea?
Commander Costello: Unlike the other services, the U.S. Navy routinely operates in international waters and airspace worldwide and does not require prior diplomatic clearance or permission to operate. As repeatedly demonstrated by all of the surface combatants assigned to the Harry S. Truman battle group, naval power is unique because it is flexible, responsive, and can project power ashore.
When we sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on 5 December 2002, the Donald Cook was not scheduled to transit the Suez Canal. While operating in the Mediterranean, because of world events and changing priorities, our employment schedule changed frequently. When the ship was ordered to transit the Suez Canal and operate in the Red Sea, it was just another one of many schedule changes for the crew.
Within the lifelines of any surface combatant, when things happen routinely and your crew is properly trained, no-notice or short-notice tasking is relatively easy to execute. Many of my crew, including myself, had never transited the Suez Canal or operated in the Red Sea before. The majority of us viewed it as another opportunity to further our professional development.
Belliveau: Did you have concerns about your transit through the canal?
Commander Costello: Although concerned about force protection, I was comfortable with the measures implemented during our Suez Canal transit. Any time you place a surface combatant, which is designed to operate on the open seas, in a narrow, confined channel, the captain will have concerns. Working in concert with the Suez Canal Authority and the government of Egypt via the United States Defense Attaché Office in Cairo, adequate force protection measures were in place for our transit.
Belliveau: When did you receive word that the Donald Cook would fire what perhaps would be the first shots of the war? How much time elapsed between the receipt of the order to the launch the first missile, and how many missiles did you fire?
Commander Costello: The Donald Cook was notified in the early morning hours of 20 March (there is a seven-hour time difference between the Red Sea and Washington, D.C.) that we may be tasked with Tomahawk firings. At the time of tasking, we were not aware that our Tomahawks would be the first surface-launched cruise missiles of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The thought never crossed any of our minds, including my own. We were focused on the task at hand, which was to execute a short-notice Tomahawk tasking when directed. It was only after the photographs and videotape of our firings, recorded by our embarked combat camera crew, were released and publicized in the national media a few hours later did any of us fully realize the impact our actions had back home in the United States.
We were able to respond to an order to fire Tomahawks in a very short period of time. It was minutes rather than hours. Our use of Tomahawks is timed very precisely with other strikes and operations to provide the maximum impact at the right time. The Donald Cook successfully fired every Tomahawk cruise missile we were assigned.
Belliveau: What was the reaction of the ship's company to the news that the Donald Cook had such an important role so early on in the war?
Commander Costello: My crew is very proud of their initial contributions to the effort to free the Iraqi people from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein. They are justifiably proud of their skill and professionalism, which was a direct result of the many hours of individual and team training conducted during our inter-deployment training cycle. All of us regret the circumstances and world events that made it necessary for us to conduct an actual Tomahawk strike.
Belliveau: What is the current mood on the ship? Excited? Relieved? Are your sailors getting any sleep, or are they running on coffee and adrenaline?
Commander Costello: Regardless of where a surface combatant is operating in the world, many routine day-to-day, week-to-week events must occur to ensure any surface combatant is ready to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea. Since we deployed, the Donald Cook has had a high operational tempo, having spent more than 70% of our deployment to date under way. We regularly adjust our watchkeeping and other duties to ensure the crew is well rested and prepared for our assigned tasking. This week has been no different. The overriding mood of the crew is quiet determination and professionalism. Everyone knows the mission and is confident in our ability to contribute to a swift victory.
Belliveau: Everybody on board made a contribution to this apparently successful mission. Are there any particular people, however, who deserve special mention?
Commander Costello: At times like this it is easy to focus on the strike team, the bridge, and combat information center watchstanders directly involved. But the success or failure of the ship is directly proportional to the individual and team contributions of everyone and every department on board. For example, the engineers provide the propulsion, electrical power, and critical hotel services such as air conditioning for computers and personnel. Supply department, day-after-day, week-after-week, provides the spare parts, logistic support, and food, retail, and disbursing services to the crew. The combat systems and operations personnel provide the trained operators and maintenance personnel for all of the combat systems on board. Admin and medical personnel provide essential support to everyone as well.
A point that is often overlooked is the vital role our families back in the States have in the combat readiness of the ship. If our spouses and families are not properly prepared and informed about deployment, my sailors rapidly become distracted and lose focus on the mission at hand. The Donald Cook is most fortunate to have an exceptional ombudsman and family support group, which has contributed directly to the ship’s sustained combat readiness throughout this deployment.
Belliveau: Anything you'd like to discuss that I have not addressed?
Commander Costello: It is an honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to command the Donald Cook and the extraordinary young officers and sailors who have formed her crew for nearly 22 months. We all hope and pray Operation Iraqi Freedom will be short, and a swift victory will be achieved with as few casualties as possible.
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