NORFOLK -- This weekend's projected bad weather delayed Friday's departure of USS Cole.
The ship and crew finally left Naval Station Norfolk around 3:0 p.m. Monday on a 7-month trip to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf areas.
The ship is deploying independent of other ships and will conduct maritime security and operations with NATO allies.
Richard Hawkins gave son Chris a hug one more time before he boarded.
"He wanted a ship with a history. I said okay and he chose USS Cole. I said 'Chris, I don't think that's the kind of history I'd be looking for' and he said 'it'll never happen again,'" Mr. Hawkins recalled.
This is the fifth overseas deployment for the guided missile destroyer since the October 2000 terrorist attack that killed 17 Cole crewmembers.
