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Sailor Who Survived USS Cole Attack Dies At 31 [Cinton Legacy: Plus WTC1 & East Afr:Embassy]
MSNBC.com ^ | December 29, 2009

Posted on 12/29/2009 9:16:03 AM PST by Steelfish

Sailor Who Survived USS Cole Attack Dies At 31 Family believes he died from a panic attack while he slept

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - A survivor of the suicide bombing on the USS Cole in Yemen 10 years ago has died at his Florida home.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Johann Gokool was found dead in his bed last Wednesday, a week after his 31st birthday.

His sister, Natala Gokool, says her brother suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and had frequent, violent panic attacks. Natala Gokool said her brother never recovered from the attack. "He didn't like to be in public in strange places . . . He'd be stuck in his room for days. He lived like an owl,'' the Miami Herald reported her as saying.

Gokool had lost his left foot when al-Qaida terrorists bombed the ship in 2000, killing 17 U.S. sailors. The bomb triggered deadly fires aboard the ship during a refueling stop in Yemen.

He talked about the explosion "all the time,'' his sister said. "Anybody who would listen, he would talk.''

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: gokool; obituary; sailors; usnavy; usscole
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1 posted on 12/29/2009 9:16:03 AM PST by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish

Very sad....


2 posted on 12/29/2009 9:17:50 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: Steelfish

Now this sailor is at final rest. Rest in peace. Your service was not in vain though; there are those of us who will continue the war against the islamist uncivilization and it’s evil desire to spread and snuff out Western Judeo-Christian civilization and all the good that goes with it. This sailor paid his dues several times over; it’s our turn to pay if we want to maintain Western freedom for our children and grandchildren. Get on board or get out of the way; you’re either with us or against us, there can be no in-between when the fight is for survival.


3 posted on 12/29/2009 9:30:58 AM PST by john drake (Roman military maxim; "oderint dum metuant," i.e., "let them hate, as long as they fear.")
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To: Steelfish
Just terrible...very terrible...that he was in such pain and torment.

Even though he was a sailor in harm's way, it's still awefull that he had suffered from serious flashbacks continuously.
Guess being exposed to trauma even in the early 20's can still have a tremendous effect on the developing mental capacity.

4 posted on 12/29/2009 9:31:57 AM PST by ExcursionGuy84 ("Jesus, Your Love takes my breath away.")
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To: john drake

RIP, sailor.


5 posted on 12/29/2009 9:32:11 AM PST by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: Steelfish

Sad indeed.

More info: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/breaking-news/story/1401216.html


6 posted on 12/29/2009 9:36:01 AM PST by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
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To: Steelfish

God rest his soul. Our volunteer armed forces are the best in the world because these young people each give us the blank check of their lives.

Johann Gokool, we salute you!


7 posted on 12/29/2009 9:36:11 AM PST by Blue Collar Christian (A "teabagger", that's me. ><BCC>)
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To: Steelfish
"Obama Obama shifts FBI from Counter Terrorism to Fraud"

"Victims of Cole bombing upset
"A top officer slammed Obama's decision to seek the withdrawal of charges against the 2000 suspected U.S.S. Cole ship bomber."
>

"Impeach Obama Says Sister of Cole Sailor Killed in Terror Attacks
"The sister of Seaman James McDaniels, a sailor killed in the terror attack on the U.S.S. Cole wants President Barack Hussein Obama impeached
over his decision to withdraw charges against the al Qaeda mastermind of the attack."

"Mother of USS Cole Sailor Declines Obama-meet, Says "I Voted for the Wrong Person"
"After Obama dropped the charges against the suspect in the bombing of the USS Cole,
he asked the families of the victims in that tragedy to meet with him.
One mother refused, and now says,"I voted for the wrong person."

Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, Morrisville, Pennsylvania.
Signalman Seaman Recruit Cheron Luis Gunn, Rex, Georgia.
Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, Norfolk, Virginia.
Seaman Recruit Lakiba Nicole Palmer, San Diego, California.
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, Ringgold, Virginia.
Ensign Andrew Triplett, Macon, Mississippi.
Seaman Apprentice Craig Bryan Wibberley, Williamsport, Maryland.
Hull Maintenance Technician 3rd Class, Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, Woodleaf, North Carolina.
Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, Rice, Texas
Engineman 2nd Class Mark Ian Nieto, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Electronics Warfare Technician 3rd Class Ronald Scott Owens, Vero Beach, Florida.
Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, Churchville, Maryland.
Fireman Apprentice Patrick Howard Roy, Cornwall on Hudson, New York.
Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Kevin Shawn Rux, Portland, North Dakota.
Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester Mananga Santiago, Kingsville, Texas
Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., Rockport, Texas



8 posted on 12/29/2009 9:46:11 AM PST by Diogenesis ("Those who go below the surface do so at their peril" - Oscar Wilde)
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To: Steelfish

I don’t know, but part of the problem certainly may have been that these sailors were killed mainly because of clinton’s careless neglect and stupidity. War can be hell in any circumstances, but it’s worse when your own CIC puts you in harm’s way and won’t even admit there’s an enemy.


9 posted on 12/29/2009 9:59:46 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Cicero

And no one armed on the ship.

Just sitting ducks for bubba.

Damn, just damn.

RIP all those who die protecting our freedom.


10 posted on 12/29/2009 10:07:37 AM PST by Carley (OBAMA IS A MALEVOLENT FORCE IN THE WORLD)
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To: Diogenesis

Super post-Thanks!


11 posted on 12/29/2009 10:31:27 AM PST by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish

RIP Gokool.
It’s too bad that you had to lose your foot and suffer afterwards because of the bombing. It’s also too bad that while you were suffering your injury that perhaps your foot could have been saved because three female sailors refused to go into the area to rescue, do first-aid and damage control! They sat in the passageway crying! This tidbit was covered-up until a lawsuit brought it to light. Whatever you may hear about feamles in the armed forces having “fit-in” is most likely all BS...like homosexuals also going to ‘fit-in’!


12 posted on 12/29/2009 10:59:22 AM PST by Georgia1
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To: Steelfish

Awful. Panic attacks are horrible, feels like having a heart attack. RIP.


13 posted on 12/29/2009 12:47:59 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: Steelfish

Prayers lifted


14 posted on 12/29/2009 6:23:46 PM PST by TASMANIANRED
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To: Steelfish

Add one more to the list of those who lost their life in Defense of Freedom.

God Bless this warrior.


15 posted on 12/30/2009 11:58:49 AM PST by Tank-FL (Keep the Faith - Congratulations - Albert - your Old Corps Now!-)
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To: Steelfish

Another article on it...
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/survivor-of-uss-cole-attack-found-dead-in-153978.html


16 posted on 01/01/2010 2:41:39 AM PST by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Georgia1

Welcome to FR, Georgia1.

Do you have a link or more details about the female sailors?


17 posted on 01/01/2010 2:43:47 AM PST by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Steelfish

Godspeed Son, your heart was burdened.


18 posted on 01/01/2010 2:47:44 AM PST by eyedigress ( now.)
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To: Georgia1

Nor the time or place to bring an agenda. Get a grip


19 posted on 01/01/2010 2:50:19 AM PST by eyedigress ( now.)
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To: eyedigress
What is your problem?
What agenda do you ‘feel’ I bring?
Does a confidential government After Action Report scare you?
Never be afraid of your government, they should be afraid of you. (someone said it better)
Happy New Year to you too Pal !
20 posted on 01/01/2010 6:21:58 AM PST by Georgia1
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