Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

German Sailors Render Extraordinary Honors to US at Sea
German Embassy, Washington DC ^ | September 15, 2003 | German Embassy to the United States

Posted on 09/25/2003 10:15:41 AM PDT by Murtyo

Military vessels routinely render honors to military ships of other countries when they pass at sea by dipping their flag, as a sign of respect. The German frigate FGS Niedersachsen went above and beyond this normal gesture of respect when it asked to come alongside the USS Doyle on September 11, 2003, the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the US. On this day, as the two ships approached and passed, the entire crew of the German vessel stood top-side in full dress uniforms, holding their hats over their hearts. And as the ultimate gesture of respect, the FGS Niedersachsen was flying the United States flag from its main mast. A US Naval Officer, in an email that also reached the German Embassy in Washington, told of how touched the US crew were by the “classy and emotional” presentation by their German counterparts.

In an interview on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered on September 14, Commander Bernd Kuhbier of the FGS Niedersachsen explained this extraordinary act. “When you are on a warship, you don't fly a foreign flag on the top mast,” Commander Kuhbier told host Steve Inskeep. “But we thought the occasion was suitable to do that, so that's what we did. We were proud to do so.”

The unexpected gesture touched the US sailors, Vice Admiral Timothy LaFleur described in an unclassified email: “From their main mast they flew our flag and they held their covers over their hearts. Needless to say, the whole crew was choked up and a few tears formed in our eyes. Both ships stayed next to each other in silence for about 5 minutes. These are the days that remind me why I joined the Navy.”

The FGS Niedersachsen and the USS Doyle are both part of NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), a permanent peacetime multinational naval squadron composed of destroyers, cruisers and frigates from the navies of various NATO nations.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Germany; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 09112003; fgsniedersachsen; nato; ussdoyle
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last
Nicely surprised to see this. Some aspect of German society is obviously still thoughtful and sees what's going on.
1 posted on 09/25/2003 10:15:41 AM PDT by Murtyo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
Yes, it's too bad that the government leaders and a small, but significant, population are communists. Thankfully, soldiers and sailors know what is important.
2 posted on 09/25/2003 10:19:04 AM PDT by thegreatbeast (Quid lucrum istic mihi est?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
Yeah, the German military. War was declared on the "West" and that includes the UK, German, France, Isreal, and anyone else who is not good Islam. We were just the first target.
3 posted on 09/25/2003 10:20:42 AM PDT by ibbryn (this tag intentionally left blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
Thank you for posting this. Beautiful tribute to HUMANITY...without thought for the differences between the political leaders.
4 posted on 09/25/2003 10:25:38 AM PDT by justshe ("Do you trust a Democrat to protect America?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo

5 posted on 09/25/2003 10:26:14 AM PDT by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
From my experience with German troops and officers, they're 99 44/100% good people, and significantly more conservative than their civilian brethren.

Funny, that sounds awfully familiar (g).

My take: the Bundessee (and Bundesland and Bundesluft. . .) know who their real friends and allies are. . .even if their political bosses don 't. . .
6 posted on 09/25/2003 10:46:18 AM PDT by Salgak (don't mind me: the orbital mind control lasers are making me write this. . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
Not to mention that no one on that German vessel will ever be able to buy a drink in a bar where there is an American sailor.
7 posted on 09/25/2003 10:48:15 AM PDT by grobdriver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
Throughout their childhood education, they are inculcated with the phrase "Vergessen Sie nie."

Their encarnation of this maxim for USA sailors in pain was very honorable. Thanks for the post.

8 posted on 09/25/2003 10:58:59 AM PDT by LurkedLongEnough (American-American.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
The German military when they wish can outdo anyone in rendering honors. In one of Edward VII's last state visits to Germany (and Edward was considered the personification of Perfidious Albion) the German Army lined the route of the royal procession to the railray station where the King was leaving from with a sold wall of regimental bands each thundering out 'God Save the King' so that the British monach was given a continuous musical salute. Edward was quite touched by the gesture from Wilhelm II.
9 posted on 09/25/2003 11:10:34 AM PDT by robowombat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salgak
Aside from soldier who are fulfilling mandatory service, most military personel are loyal, moderately conservative, people.
10 posted on 09/25/2003 11:13:44 AM PDT by 1stFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: justshe
Yes, it is a beautiful tribute, one that brought tears to my eyes.
11 posted on 09/25/2003 11:17:17 AM PDT by Quilla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: msdrby
Navy ping
12 posted on 09/25/2003 11:36:15 AM PDT by Prof Engineer (HHD - I married Msdrby on 9/11/03. --- My Tagline is an Honor Student at Taglinus FReerepublicus!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Prof Engineer; Rodney King
Remember that salute from the co-ed crew of a Dutch (?) Navy ship a couple years ago? That was even better (and there was a great post on it, if I remember correctly.
13 posted on 09/25/2003 11:54:59 AM PDT by Stingray51
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
I think the German Navy has always marched (sailed?) to a different drummer. In some of the shows about the sinking of the Bismark, they talk about how Admiral Raeder retained the traditional naval salute instead of adopting the Nazi salute and how he resisted the pressure to remove Jewish officers from the navy.
14 posted on 09/25/2003 12:17:44 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
Since this comes from the German Embassy website am I to assume this hasn't been published due to the U.S. media blackout on good news about the war on terror?
15 posted on 09/25/2003 12:33:44 PM PDT by colorado tanker (USA - taking out the world's trash since 1776)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
Back in 2001, shortly after 9/11, there was another (or perhaps the same) German Naval Ship that did the same thing. I thought for a minute this was a reposting of that, but apparently not.
16 posted on 09/25/2003 12:39:26 PM PDT by Tatze (Give Pizza Chants!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tatze
You remember correctly click here
17 posted on 09/25/2003 12:57:11 PM PDT by ASA Vet (Citizens have the government they deserve.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker
I did a search in Yahoo News first and I think you're correct
18 posted on 09/25/2003 1:53:47 PM PDT by Murtyo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: 1stFreedom
I disagree. Germany still has the draft, 80,000 of their 285,000 soldiers are men who are compelled to serve. But they have the choice to serve in a civilian institution (Red Cross, hospitals, retirement houses, even soccer clubs for training the youth is accepted) or to serve in the military. So those who´re in the armed forces can be considered as "voluntary compelled" and they´re also loyal, moderaly conservative people.

Sincerely,

Michael,
who has served in the German Army because of the draft, but voluntary joined the Reserve
19 posted on 09/25/2003 3:05:37 PM PDT by Michael81Dus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Murtyo
The Germans did this the day or so after 9/11. I think one of our ships was leaving a port, and a German ship was on it's way into port - as they passed - the German ship flew the American flag at Half-staff, while all the crew stood at attention - and they had a huge sign on the side of the ship - "We Stand By You". I used to have the picture.
20 posted on 09/25/2003 4:09:30 PM PDT by CyberAnt (America - The Greatest Nation on the Face of the Earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson