Posted on 08/21/2004 5:40:34 AM PDT by geros
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The crew of the USS John F. Kennedy rescued six people from a sinking Iranian cargo dhow over the weekend.
"We thought we were dead. We made smoke so people could see us. Three boats passed us before the helicopter cam to get us," said Mortata G. Asfendeary through a translator.
A distress signal was initially received by USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), which was operating with Expeditionary Strike Group Three (ESG 3) in the North Arabian Sea. The Mobile Bay relayed the message to the John F. Kennedy.
The Kennedy dispatched two HH-60 helicopters from HS-15 to the scene. Aircraft from Patrol Squadron NINE, a P3C squadron, monitored the dhow and coordinated helicopter rescue operations.
According to one survivor, a broken propeller shaft seal caused the vessel to begin taking on water.
"Thank you to America," said Naser Asfendeary after arriving safely aboard the John F. Kennendy.
Once on board, Kennedy's medical staff treated the sailors, who were in good health, according to the aircraft carrier's senior medical officer. After getting a check-up and taking a shower, the Iranian guests had a hot meal.
After spending almost eight hours on the aircraft, the Iranians were transferred to USS Vickburg (CG 69) for follow-on transport to an Iranian civil authorities' boat.
The JFK collided with a dhow last month during nighttime training exercises. No word on if anyone was on board the boat in that incident. The JFK used helicopters to search for possible victims but no one was found
It was a Zionist Plot that broke the propeller shaft.
"Thank you to America," said Naser Asfendeary
That emotion should last a few days. Then, next week, Naser and his friends will be out jumping around in front of TV cameras cursing America and threatening to kill us.
Upon arrival back in Tehran, Naser Asfendeary made the following statement to the press,
"The Yankie infidel rammed our dhow and sunk it, then they captured us from the water where we were happily swimmingn home and imprisoned us on their warship. We were totrtured and humiliated by their pimps and whores. Death to the Yankee! DEATH TO THE INFIDEL!!!"
;o)
Sadly true but funny still.
I would take Naser's gratitude at face value. First of all, he's human. Second, the anti-American regime that rules Iran is deeply unpopular in that country.
I like your headline better than the original.
And I proudly salute the crew of the USS Kennedy!
Isn't the JFK a carrier ?
To avoid duplicates, please use the published heading.
Yes, the Kennedy's a carrier (CVA-67). I served on the Nimitz (CVN-68). Nimitz was the first of a new class. It was built to essentially the same plans as Kennedy, but unlike Kennedy, it was nuclear-powered.
Wasn't Kennedy supposed to be nuke powered but was scatched for some reason ?
This is the first I've heard about that, Eric.
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