| Fighting to Save the Cole | |
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Dateline: 10/23/00
Updated: 10/26/00
USS
Cole Memorial Fund Information Contacting
the Crew of the Cole - Cole Care Line
On
Thursday, Oct. 12, seventeen US sailors died and another 39 were injured when
the Navy destroyer USS Cole was attacked by terrorist bombers in the Yemeni port
of Aden. Since the
attack, sailors have been fighting around-the-clock to save the 505-foot
destroyer which sustained a 40-foot by 40-foot hole in her portside hull in the
bombing. The
following accounts of the fight to save the Cole and conditions in Yemen were received via e-mail by
families and friends of US military personnel:
Oct.
22, 2000 - I
just got an e-mail from a good friend of mine who flies SH-60B's off the USS
Hawes. I thought you might like to read it.
"It wasn't until a few days ago though, that we started doing something
that I feel may be the first thing I've seen in my short Naval career that has
truly made a difference. Right now we're supporting the USS COLE and her
crew in Aden.
When the attack occurred we
were a day away. Just by luck we happened to be on our way out of the Gulf and
headed towards the Suez and could get here in a relatively short amount of
time. I know what you all have seen on CNN, because we have seen it too.
I just want you all to know
that what you see doesn't even scratch the surface. I'm not going to get
into it for obvious reasons. But I will tell you that right now there are
250+ sailors just a few miles away living in hell on Earth. I'm sitting in
a nice air conditioned state room, they're sleeping out on the decks at night.
You can't even imagine the conditions they're living in, and yet they
are still fighting 24 hours a day to save their ship and free the bodies of
those still trapped and send them home.
As bad as it is, they're
doing an incredible job. The very fact that these people are still functioning
is beyond my comprehension. Whatever you imagine as the worst, multiply it
by ten and you might get there. Today I was tasked to photo rig the ship
and surrounding area. It looked so much worse than I had imagined, unbelievable
really, with debris and disarray everywhere, the ship listing, the hole in her
side. I wish I had the power to relay to you all what I have seen, but
words just won't do it.
I do want to tell you the
first thing that jumped out at me - the Stars and Stripes flying. I can't tell
you how that made me feel...even in this God forsaken hell hole our flag was
more beautiful than words can describe. Then I started to notice the mass
of activity going on below, scores of people working non-stop in 90 plus
degree weather to save this ship. They're doing it with almost no electrical
power and they're sleeping (when they can sleep) outside on the decks
because they can't stand the smell or the heat or the darkness inside.
They only want to eat what
we bring them because they're all scared of eating something brought by the
local vendors. Even with all that, the USS COLE and her crew is sending a
message guys, and it's that even acts of cowardice and hate can do nothing to
the spirit and pride of the United States. I have never been so proud of
what I do, or of the men and women that I serve with as I was today.
There are sixteen confirmed dead sailors who put it on the line for all of us,
and some of them are still trapped here. Please take a minute to pray for
their families and say a word of thanks for their sacrifice - one made so that
we can live the lives that we do. All of you that serve with me, thank you. All
of you that have loved ones that serve, thank you."
Oct. 23, 2000
Received this from my brother aboard the USS Anchorage assisting the USS Cole, thought you may be interested.
"John, Your friend said it all. We too are on station and I will be going over there in the morning to provide a lunch. I wanted to grill steak
for them on their deck, but there is still too much oil and fuel, not to
mention every square foot of deck is now their living space, to set up a
grill. Their requests have been simple, hot food, cold drinks and dry coveralls and
boots. The ships here are all taking turns doing their laundry and cooking
their meal. The Cole's crew has been offered repeatedly to take R&R on
another ship but most have refused. They refuse to leave their ship. The details of their shipmates having to be cut from the bulkheads and
I have vowed myself and my department to offer any comfort, large or small that we are capable of providing, to the Cole. None of my guys have once complained and all have volunteered to help in any way. The Cole's Suppo was injured and flown home. The disbo is now running things. I will assess his needs when I go over. The Suppo on the Hawes has been controlling the efforts but now that the Tarawa is on station they seem to be taking the rains, but I think I can at least provide him some insight.
Let there be no doubt that this is a hostile land. It took days before we were even allowed to enter territorial waters and still we are heavily restricted in flights and must maintain a constant vigil against additional hostile actions. The Yemen government is still not being very helpful and we are trying to place all personnel onboard the ships that are currently staying at the two hotels in town. The Cole's crew remains emotionally and physically drained I'm told. So, since you have experienced Navy life, try relay to those back home the sacrifices we make, hardships we endure, and the dangers we face in an effort to keep those Stars and Stripes flying high over a ship 10,000 miles from home. Take care and sleep well knowing the US Navy is on watch tonight, but say a prayer for the 250 members of the Cole who must wake tomorrow to another day of fighting for their ship."
USS ANCHORAGE
Let these letters drive home this fact: Even during times of "peace," the men and women of the Unites States Military go into battle for us every single day. Freedom would not last long without their sacrafice.
Contributing to the USS Cole Memorial Fund
At the request of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has agreed to be the conduit through which public donations (individual, group, and corporate) for USS Cole (DDG 67) victims and their families may be channeled. The Society will administer this fund in compliance with the parameters drafted and approved by the active duty Navy leadership, with input from the commanding officer and crew of USS Cole.Anyone interested in making a donation should make checks payable to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, or simply NMCRS, and include "For USS COLE" in the lower left corner of the check (the memo).
Mail all donations to:
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
801 North Randolph Street, Suite 1228
Arlington, VA 22203-1978
Thank you for your interest and support!
Contacting the Crew of the Cole
USS COLE Care Line
(757) 444-4921
(757) 444-6289
1-800-368-3202
or 1-800-372-5463
ask for USS COLEVia E-mail: COLEDET@NSN.CMAR.NAVY.MIL
Via Telephone: COLE Family Center Toll Free: 1-866-314-4049
List of the 17 men and women killed aboard the USS Cole
Hull Maintenance Technician Second Class Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, 21, of Mechanicsville, Va.
Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, 35, of Morrisville, Pa.
Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, 19, of Woodleaf, N.C.
Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, 21, of Rice, Texas
Signalman Seaman Cherone Louis Gunn, 22, of Rex, Ga.
Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, 19, of Norfolk, Va.
Engineman Second Class Marc Ian Nieto, 24, of Fond du Lac, Wis.
Electronics Warfare Technician Second Class Ronald Scott Owens, 24, of Vero Beach, Fla.
Seaman Lakiba Nicole Palmer, 22, of San Diego, Calif.
Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, 19, of Churchville, Md.
Fireman Patrick Howard Roy, 19, of Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.
Electronics Warfare Technician First Class Kevin Shawn Rux, 30, of Portland, N.D.
Mess Management Specialist Third Class Ronchester Manangan Santiago, 22, Kingsville, Texas
Operations Specialist Second Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, 32, of Ringgold, Va.
Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., 26, Rockport, Texas
Ensign Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss.
Seaman Craig Bryan Wibberley, 19, of Williamsport, Md.
Source: The United States Navy
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