Posted on 11/11/2001 12:15:30 PM PST by Bowana
USS Cole Floats A Day Ahead of Schedule
As Printed in The Exeter News-Letter on Tuesday November 6th, 2001:
On Friday, September 14th, The USS Cole was set afloat again and it was done a day ahead of schedule. The shipyard in Pascagoula Mississippi worked diligently to get the USS Cole back on the water. Congratulations to all for their valiant effort. The USS Cole had been the victim of a terrorist attack while refueling in Yemen last October.
With the events of late, this reminds me of another war waged against terrorism by American soldiers. This is a story that I wrote last year titled "Lest We Forget-Bravery Of Our Servicemen and Women":
Lt. Brandon Floyd, of the USS Hawes, a guided missile Frigate, offered his personal perspective on the tragedy:
"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 stateroom, 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."
This letter can be found on the Department of the Navy's, Navy Historical Center Website: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/2000/nov-dec/cole.htm.
Someone who was there and witnessed these events wrote this incredible letter. General Norman Schwartzkopf on CNN also talked about the brave and valiant effort that the crew of the USS Cole had put forth to recover the bodies of their fallen comrades and keep their ship afloat.
The US does a lot to be hated for around the world, but I don't like it when we attack citizens of other countries for the actions of their governments, and I don't like acts of terrorism against our servicemen who are just doing their jobs.
While the rest of the Navy is still in the comfort of their posts, the crew of the USS Cole continues to live in a disaster area, with many of their systems down, and having to sleep above deck. The crew continues the battle to keep their ship, their pride and joy, and ours too, afloat. To let this ship sink and leave the bodies of trapped servicemen and women to the sea would just be another victory for the suicidal maniacs that perpetrated this horrendous crime against our country.
In a time of peace our servicemen and women are fighting a major war against terrorism by standing up for their country and doing whatever it takes to keep the honor and respect of their ship, and their country, intact.
Some people feel that the military is a way for people to avoid the hustle and bustle of the public sector, but they don't get paid very well. They don't always get the benefits that they deserve, and last and absolutely not the least is the fact that even during peace time, when you serve our country, your life is on the line. Lest we forget, these honorable men and women put their lives on the line for the rest of us. Like the line spoken by Jack Nicolson in the movie A Few Good Men, "We (servicemen) walk the line to protect your freedom while you sit at home and eat your Wheaties."
When our boys and girls go off to serve our country, we need to remember that they are putting their lives on the line for us, and we should remember and respect them more often then once a year on Veterans Day.
I would like to thank all of those that are serving or have ever served our country. It may not seem that way sometimes, but there are a lot of us who do appreciate what you do.
United We Stand, Divided We Fall.
Also Posted on Country Pond Fish and Game Club's Salute to Veteran's: The Guardians of Honor
Thank You All for Your Service to Our Country and to Your Families for the Sacrifices they endure to allow you to serve!
For information on Col. Ollie North's college scholarships for the surviving children of those slain on the U.S.S. Cole, see http://www.freedomalliance.org/press/pr/2001/010109.htm
Apologies for being link-challenged.
There you go Grani!
From A "Grumpin", my Granddaughter's name for me!
Here's to the memory of the 17 sailors lost to the terrorists on that vessel, on Veteran's Day.
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