Donald Cook is named after Col. Donald Cook, USMC. Col (then Capt.) Cook was captured in Vietnam, held as a POW, and eventually died in captivity. His story is an integral part of the history of this ship. Capt Cook was assigned to the Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, and recieved orders to Vietnam. He volunteered to conduct a Search and Rescue mission for a downed helicopter on 31 December, 1964. Ambushed on their arrival at the crash site, he attempeted to rally the Vietnamese Marines who accompanied him, tended the wounded, and was draggin others away when he was shot in the leg and captured. He was taken to a POW camp on the Cambodian border, where he quickly established himself as the senior American (even though he was not) and provided guidance and strength to his fellow prisoners. Subjected to physical abuse byu the Viet Cong, he tried to maintain his health by exercising and running in place in his small cell. His health, however, soon suffered, and he contracted malaria. After moving to a new camp, he regained some of his health, and unhesitatingly took on the bulk of others workloads in order that they might have time to recover. Even thoug he was on half-rations, he shared his food with other prisoners, and even gave up his allowance of penicillin. Knowing that he would not survive, he continued to give up his food and medicine to other POWs. In this respect, he went far beyond the call of duty by risking his own life to inspire other POWs to live. He was last seen on a jungle trail by a fellow American prisoner, Douglas Ramsey, in November 1967. When Ramsey was released in 1973, he was told that Capt. Cook had died from malaria on 8 December 1967 while still in captivity. No remains were ever turned over by the Vietnamese government. On 26 February 1980, He was declared dead under the Missing Service Persons Act of 1942. On 15 May 1980, a memorial stone was placed in Arlington Natinal Cemetary and the flag from the empty grave presented to his wife, Laurette. The following day, Captain Donald G. Cook was posthumously promoted to Colonel and awarded the Medal Of Honor. We have a quote from a letter to his wife that was smuggled out of captivity. It reads as follows: "Do what is right and just no matter the personal cost. Love of God and man above all else. Don't judge yourself by others but others by yourself. Life to me is so simple. There is life, death, and eternity. If we can't save our souls what good is anything. This guides and will guide all my actions." Dates in the ship's history: 9 July 1996 - Keel Laid at Bath Iron Works. 3 May 1997 - Ship Chistened 29 June 1998 - Alpha/Bravo Trials completed 3 December 1998 - Ship Commissioned 4 Dec '98 - 20 Jun '00 - Predeployment workups 21 Jun '00 - 22 Dec '00 Maiden Deployment.