USS Cole

For the benefit of those who have not had the pleasure of serving in the world's greatest Navy, I have edited some articles for better understanding. I've also edited content which may reveal the extent of the damage to Cole, or the effectiveness of our Damage Control or Security. My edits are in red. Tim

This page last updated on December 23, 2007

Message from
Cmdr. Kirk Lippold
Commanding Officer, USS COLE

Courtesy USS Cole
Web Site

I'm Commander Kirk Lippold, Commanding Officer of USS COLE. I wanted to take a few minutes for the friends and family of USS COLE that are back home giving of us all the support and take a few minutes to tell you about what happened in the last few days.

Last Thursday, the ship suffered a devastating explosion outboard of us on our port side. Since then, we've worked hard to contain the damage and even today we're working in some below deck spaces to maintain the watertight integrity of the ship.

When the explosion occurred, the immediate actions of the crew saved this ship and saved the lives of many, many of the crewmembers onboard. The courageousness that was shown by them was unbelievable. They have worked non-stop since then. You can be proud of every single Sailor aboard this ship. They have done their part now. They have done their part every single minute since it happened and I know that they will continue to do it. The outpouring of support that we have received from back home from the phone calls, the emails we have been receiving, have been absolutely phenomenal and please keep them up. I highly encourage you to do it because it means more than you know when we get these special messages from home.

We don't know exactly when we'll be headed back, but we're working those issues right now and as soon as we do know, we're going to get this ship back home, put back together so that she can again sail and defend American freedom throughout the world. It's been because of the efforts of the crew on this ship that they've done their part to make sure that we can have the freedoms that we enjoy. And you should be proud of them because they have done their utmost. Keep up the great work for us out there and we do our part back here. Thank you.

Transcript from videotaped message of
Master Chief Hospital Corpsman James Parlier
Command Master Chief, USS Cole (DDG 67)

Courtesy USS Cole
Web Site

Hello families, COLE family members and friends. My name is Master Chief Parlier, your command master chief.

Most of you probably haven't seen my face until now. Unfortunately, it's under these circumstances. I'm proud of every Sailor here. They've done an outstanding -- no, they've been heroic at everything they have done. I stood by their side through the whole tragedy.

I was just amazed that all the years as a corpsman, how all these people came through in saving Sailors lives and assisting on saving the ship – and their damage control knowledge. They went well beyond what they were expected to do -- and more. I would serve again anywhere with these Sailors. I am so proud and you need to be proud.

Right now, we're going through pretty hard times trying to keep this ship afloat, trying to get her home, and of course, looking forward to coming home to you because we love you and we want to get home. Just keep the support coming. It's tremendous. We see it and I'm sure we will see more. Every Sailor here, believe me, has got you in their minds, but they know we have got to get the ship home.

Again, thank you for the support back home. We're proud to be serving for you and thank you for the sacrifices you've made for us. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you.

Profiles of the USS Cole victims

Some were still teen-agers. Two were young women. Several had fathers who preceded them in serving their country. Most grew up in small or mid-size towns and joined the Navy with adventure as well as duty in mind. Seventeen Sailors died doing their duty when a terrorist bomb tore through the hull of the destroyer USS Cole during a refueling stop in Yemen. One of the victims, Cherone Gunn, aspired to be a policeman and saw the Navy as a steppingstone. Another sailor, Kevin Rux, actually tried police work in Connecticut after 10 years in the Navy, but reconsidered -- and re-enlisted a year ago. Sharon Priepke of Fond du Lac., Wisconsin -- who son, 24-year-old Marc Nieto, was among the dead -- probably spoke for all the grieving families. "He had goals to the sky and he was going to achieve those goals," she said, clutching some of her son's commendations. "He was just starting to live his life."

Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronchester Santiago, 22
Kingsville, Texas
Santiago had been in the Navy since graduating in 1996 from H.M. King High School. He was scheduled to get out of the service in December and planned to study electrical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. "He was attracted to the adventure in the Navy," said his father, Rogelio Santiago, a retired Navy petty officer first class. "He wanted to see the world. He just wanted the experience."

Seaman Craig Wibberley, 19
Williamsport, Maryland
Wibberley's duties included raising and lowering the destroyer's small anchor. "He was a good all-American boy," said the Rev. Anne Weatherbolt, the Wibberley family minister. "Any time there's a loss on a small community everybody feels it." His father, Tom Wibberley, said: "It's a terrible thing that people would take human lives the way they did. They took a son away from me." His mother, Patty Wibberley, is a nursing assistant at an assisted-living center. "I'm just numb. It hasn't sunk in yet," she said. One of Wibberley's friends, Tyler Growden, 19, said the two liked to fish in the Potomac River. He and others described Craig -- who graduated from Washington Technical High School last year -- as someone who had no enemies.

Electronics Technician 1st Class Richard Costelow, 35
Morrisville, Pennsylvania
Costelow was from a blue-collar suburb across the Delaware River from Trenton, New Jersey. His wife and three children had been staying at the Paxtuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, Maryland. One of teachers and coaches from Morrisville's high school remembered Costelow vividly. "He gave 100 percent everyday. That kind of kid doesn't come along too often," said Bernard Derby. Ivan Colon, 35, graduated with Costelow and remembers him as a prankster who wasn't afraid to be the brunt of jokes. "People say there's always a bad side to everyone -- I can't find one in him," Colon said.

Engineman Fireman Joshua Parlett, 19
Churchville, Maryland
Parlett joined the Navy last year after graduating from high school. "He believed in what he was doing," said his father, Leroy Parlett.

Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis, 26
Rockport, Texas
Swenchonis joined the Navy two years ago after four years in the Army. His parents, Gary and Deborah Swenchonis, said he planned to make the Navy his career.

Emails from on-scene

..... the 2 ½ days I've spent on her so far, the DC1's (Damage Controlman First Class) and HT1 (Hull Technician First Class) have treated me as their "token Chief." Whenever anything came up, they'd come find me and say "Chief, I need your opinion." Made me feel good.

I've trained half my career for this kinda shit, and spent a lot of time training others for it. Never in my wildest dreams, did I ever want to actually have to put it to use in this fashion. I've been blowing my own whistle, the real heroes are the crew. Their HT1, HT1 Hayes, was one of my students in RPL (Repair Party Leader), as soon as I walked on board, he's giving credit for his actions, to the training he got; not necessarily from me, but from others like me. He's proud as hell of the fact that, out of all the people that were trapped alive, NONE died. He and his guys rescued 7 people themselves. That crew, not the chain of command, the crew did a helluva job, considering what they faced. Within 3 minutes of the explosion, they had the jaws of life going, getting people out.

I'll never forget what I've seen, or smelled. Well, I just got back on board a few hours ago, grabbed a shower, ate some lunch, started my malaria pills. I'm gonna grab a nap. I'll write more as it unfolds!

First let me start by saying I appreciate the show of support I have received from all of you. The way the email is working on one of the other ships that have arrived here (the USS Hawes) is letting us save emails on disk and then they take them back to their ship and send them, they are also bringing emails to us a couple times a day. The problem is, we don't always have power and we only have two offices on the ship with working computers, one being mine and we can't use it because the FBI is using my office and we're not allowed in there.

Okay, so what has been happening here. They may screen this so I don't know if all of it will make it to you. This also may be more than some of you may want to read about, I need to express exactly what I saw. We had stopped in Yemen to gas up the ship. It was approximately 1115 and Steve had just stopped in my office to see if I was ready to go to lunch. We were standing there talking when out of the blue we heard and felt this tremendous explosion. We took off running to go to General Quarters (GQ - battle stations), but we didn't get the alarm and no one was saying anything on the 1MC (ships announcing system). People were running everywhere wondering what in the world had happened. The ship was listing to the port side (the side my office is on). Someone yelled that we couldn't get to my Repair Locker (where I go for GQ). So we started running up and to the starboard side. There were people covered in blood, covered in this black stuff like oil or something. Only one person was screaming. We thought it may have been an explosion having to do with the refueling. Then people started coming out from the mess decks (crew eating area), injured.

We had a hard time breathing. We were trying to get the injured into some areas out of the way and to administer first aid. The hardest part for me was not knowing what to do medically, all I could do was comfort and give oxygen. People had feet barely hanging on, legs mangled to really weird positions, internal injuries, amputations, broken jaws, cuts and bruises and so on. In the meantime, we're flooding and DIW (dead in the water or no power at all). Later, I went with several others to the galley area to apply AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam - a fire retardant) into the cavernous area because we were also losing our fuel and we didn't want a fire. How we avoided one to begin with is a mystery to everyone. I have never seen such a horrible sight. Everything was blown towards the starboard side and mangled. There were people pinned against the walls, body parts in and under metal, legs and torsos hanging from the rafters.

Very few people have cried. Lots of people have been snapping at each other. That night we had to attempt to sleep out on the filthy, bumpy flight deck, most people couldn't sleep. Some electrical power has come on and off. The engineers have been working non-stop to try and keep generators running. So, I haven't slept in my rack. If something gives way we have more flooding. We only had the one toilet that is out on the refueling pier, we couldn't take showers, I did get to take a cold one this morning and it was wonderful. We also have a few toilets working right now. Just pray it stays that way until they decide to take us off the ship. Last night they sent some people to another ship to clean up and spend the night, we have some cots now, but not enough. I could keep going but someone else wants to send an email.

Oh yes, myself and several others have dysentery(?) now and we have started meds for malaria. A few people are sunburnt, but I brought sunscreen so I don't have that problem. The temp is in the 100s. The other ships that have pulled in have shown us tremendous support. They took some of our laundry today and they have been bringing us food so we're eating well and staying hydrated with lots of warm bottled water. I'm not allowed to eat today but I'm drinking plenty.

Myself and 29 other people were sent over to another ship to take a hot shower and spend the night. They are trying to rotate 30 of us every day now. The support from the other ships has been great. They are helping try to do some repairs, supplying some food and now this. I got here just in time this evening to see the memorial service. It got a little emotional at the end when they showed their pictures at the end. I want to try and answer a few questions that I have been asked and share with you a little of what has gone on. I could go on for pages but we're not allowed to go into a lot of detail and some of the details you probably don't want to hear about.

First, we are sailors, not soldiers. I realize some of you don't know the difference so that is just to let you know. Yes, I did know everyone who perished. Some of them were my friends. There were only 320 personnel onboard including officers. Being in a confined space and having to work, train and live with people in that kind of environment, you get to know everyone. I was working packages (cases) on several of them. There are still a few of them left in the blast area. They retrieved a couple yesterday and a couple today. We have a ritual that we are doing when they take them off the ship. It is the first time that anyone has really shown any emotion. There are still a lot who haven't shown any. We are staying too busy, too scared, and are too shocked. I finally started breaking down yesterday and tonight. How do I try to talk these kids into staying in the Navy after this? I don't want to do that. It's definitely something I'm going to have to work through.

The smell has been horrible. Last night was my first night to sleep in my rack. My berthing has potable water (not drinkable), so we can take cold showers and flush the toilets and it has air conditioning now. Until then, we were sleeping on the flight deck on non-skid, then they brought in 50 cots (for 240 people). We were sharing one toilet that was on the pier with our crew and another 100 or so people from FBI to divers, etc. Everything external is covered with black explosive powder and fiber glass.

I ended up with dysentery. Some people refuse to sleep inside the ship and some refuse to sleep in their rack (they're 3 high). It was lunch time and we were refueling. Thank God we didn't have fire. It was devastation, smoke and flooding. To give you an idea how quick it happened, there were people standing in line for their food and part of the ship wall flew back and pinned them against an inner wall and they never knew what hit them. Three people were in the oil lab, one was blown to pieces, two were blown out of the ship and one of them is covered with 2nd degree burns all over her body. All of the deceased left in the ship were blown apart. They called them missing because they couldn't get through the wreckage until certain teams came and did their investigations and so on first. That area is very unsafe to say the least.

A Dayton Daily News reporter emailed me. That's the last thing I feel like doing. Dr. Debard and his wife emailed me. For those of you who don't know, that is the doctor who delivered me. Don't know exactly when we'll be home. Don't know what they're going to do with us. I would hope we would get some leave. I can't wait to see my boys and not let go of them. I can't wait to see all of you. I can't receive cards through email. The way the email works is: one of the ships brings over some disks and we type out our letters, then they take it back to their ship and send them. We get email from you all printed out from them. Tonight they gave us an account here on the ship so we could send a regular email. We have no phones on the ship. Twice they brought a phone on, we stood in line for hours and got a three minute call. All we are concerned about right now is surviving. We have definitely learned to appreciate the simplest of simple things in life.

I received birthday boxes from my parents. Everyone was in heaven as we passed around the things that smelled good and clean. Thank you so much. Some people have wanted to send care packages, we don't have anywhere to store anything right now. Most people are asking for sunscreen, batteries, pillows and cases, Copenhagen Snuff, cigarettes, socks, underwear, tee shirts, navy blue coveralls and safety boots. I know there's a couple more things, I just can't think of what at the moment. I appreciate all the emails and concern from all of you. Well, I am going to close. I get to make a phone call and so I want to call the boys.

From: CAPT Johnny L. Green [mailto:jlgreen@camden.navy.mil]
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 11:20 PM
Subject: Just a Typical Day on CAMDEN: OP Determined Response

ALL: I am in awe of what the American Sailor can do when the chips are down! CAMDEN is presently engaged FULLY in the Gulf of Aden supporting the INCREDIBLE SAILORS of USS COLE (DDG 67) in Operation Determined Response. As I write this we have just recovered our last Utility Boat of the day/night (we have been running a full schedule of small boat operations each day with the Captains Gig and both our utility boats to run personnel, food, water, medicine, body bags and National Ensigns to cover them, clean clothes, DC equipment, whatever from the support ships {USS HAWES (FFG 53) and USS DONALD COOK (DDG 75) as well as CAMDEN to COLE) and are buttoning up for sea as we transit out to our Night Steam Box off the coast. Just a typical day on CAM:

The Aviation Warriors back aft on the Flight Deck (AMH's, AE's, AT's, AD's, etc.) plied their trade superbly, as usual, as we conducted a VertRep w/USS DULUTH (LPD 6) {which just arrived as part of TARAWA ARG (USS TARAWA (LHA 1) and USS ANCHORAGE ( LSD 36)} mid-day. The BM's ran the 5-ton boom to hoist the boats in and out of the water (first boat in the water at 0600, last boat out at 1830...a short day!) and then manned those same boats as the crew and motored around the Harbor meeting all the varied needs of COLE and our ever increasing support cast. This after manning and running the refueling rigs until 2330 last night as we refueled ANCHORAGE.

The GM's continued to man the Force Protection Security Teams on each boat as well as manning the .50cal's, Chain Guns and machine guns all day long (and most of the night when within small boat threat range of land) and then went down to the magazines to break out some ammunition we are replenishing on TARAWA. The RP's and the Chaplain spent another day running the Library and Media Resource Center while providing MUCH needed counseling for the visiting COLE HERO crew members. We have had about 35 COLE HEROES a day on CAM as they rotate off their GREAT SHIP for some needed rest and recuperation (150 total visitors as I write). They come aboard dirty, exhausted, emotionally spent, with a vacant look in their eyes, their backs bent. We meet each and every one of them with Side Boys, an announcement on the 1MC and a sponsor. NCCM Rickel, my CMC, has put together an inspired program of support that has made CAM the R&R destination of choice!

Supply Dept ensures all COLE HEROES get clean coveralls, new if theirs are beyond cleaning, which is most often the case, dry boots, toiletry items and a CLEAN, freshly made bunk. We get them to the showers and then to the Mess Hall and then to the rack. We have turned our Ops Office into our COLE HERO Phone Center where we have set up 3 phones to allow them all to call home free of charge. We have a reception every evening with cake and ice cream to show them how much we appreciate the sacrifices they have made for their country and their Navy (celebrated 4 Birthdays as well at these receptions).

My Doc and his HM's and my Dentist and his DT's have provided 5-star medical and dental care to approximately 25 COLE HEROES. When they leave CAM the next day they have grins on their faces again and a spring in their step as they board the utility boat, passing through Side Boys. What a GREAT sight! Just a typical day on CAM. The CAM Engineers (MM's, EN's, EM's, DC's, HT's and MR's) have provided another day of electricity, water, COOL air (93 degrees today, it is cooling off!), 30 knots of available speed, Rescue and Assistance Details to COLE (we send 48 R&A personnel to COLE each day to assist them in their recovery efforts and spell them on their watch standing duties; 24 in the morning for 12 hours and 24 at night for 12 hours. These CAM Sailors have seen the worst and the best of a Sailors life), and Oh, by the way, they still maintain their 34 year old ship like a New Comm. Just a typical day on CAM. My IT's are supporting e-mail accounts for every COLE HERO who comes aboard as well as TWO Communication plans, one for the Lincoln Battle Group and one for OP Determined Response.

The FSA's/MS's and Mess Deck MAA's provided another day of NEY Finalist (we ARE gonna win the NEY!) food service to the 550 CAM Sailors and the COLE HERO visitors, as well as Cake and Ice Cream for the re-enlistment we conducted at 1300 (superbly put together by my NC and his retention team). The ET's, IC's, EW's and FC's ensured all our electronic equipment and sensors were tuned and operating correctly as we sit in a very dangerous environment, close to the shore with very short reaction times and an unknown threat. They also ensured we and our COLE HEROES could watch, and record, the emotional COLE Memorial Service at Pier 12 on Norfolk Naval Station last night. We have made copies for all the COLE HEROES who have requested one. Just a typical day on CAM.

The OS's controlled our helicopters during the Vert Rep today, ran our air and surface search radar's and researched and produced the myriad of operational messages and repots we are required to provide to our TWO Chain of Commands (Lincoln Battle Group and OP Determined Response) while providing training to my Bridge Watch and Combat Information Center Teams on the asymmetrical threat we face here in the Gulf of Aden. The QM's ensured we stayed in deep ENOUGH water even though the CAPT kept the ship as close to land as possible to reduce the range for the boat runs. The SM's sent and received an unknown amount of visual messages as we blend the TARAWA ARG into the Operation, as well as performing their invaluable job of visual lookout and tracking of the many small craft transiting the harbor (is THAT the one with the explosives meant for CAM?!).

The SK's and SH's spent another day in the Store Rooms looking for and breaking out the stores, parts and supplies required by COLE and the rest of the ships we are logistically supporting here off Aden. They also had a banner day in the ship's Store and the Barber Shop, as our guests required those services. Just a typical day on CAM.

The YN's, PN's and my LN ensured all the paper work continued, even though it is hard to think of paper work when faced with the tragedy of COLE. The Service Record entries were all made so our OUTSTANDING Sailors can be eligible for the next rating exam cycle, the tickler file was updated and the Will and Power of Attorney questionnaires were all filled out...the POD was printed and distributed (with our first note requesting information and volunteers for our Tiger Cruise on the way home!!!)...just a typical day on CAM.

My Officers and CPO's spent another day LEADING, TRAINING, RETAINING!!! We spend a lot of time and "sweat beading" these days wondering how to retain our gifted Sailors...the "typical day" on CAM provides most of the answer...My Sailors are HIGH AS A KITE because they know they are doing something IMPORTANT! They are doing the things they JOINED the Navy to do and they are getting positive feedback on their herculean efforts by watching the transformation of their Shipmates from COLE. They see the COLE HEROES come aboard hunch backed, down trodden, beaten...they watch them "bounce" down the A-com ladder the next day to return to COLE with big smiles on their faces...they feel the slap on the back and hear the "Thank You Shipmate" as the COLE HEROES file through the Side Boys and embark the boats. They see the COLE coming back as a SHIP partly because of their individual and collective efforts. They are not asking for more time off, bigger duty sections, an IRA...they are doing their chosen profession (yes, PROFESSION, not job, as in IBM or WalMart) and realizing their dream of doing something IMPORTANT and MAKING A DIFFERENCE. They are validating the reason they JOINED the Navy!!! They are KICKING ASS!! and LOVING IT!! They are precisely driving and maneuvering THEIR ship and employing its vast array of capabilities JUST LIKE THEY ENVISIONED the NAVY....at sea.....in an exotic, FOREIGN sea....making a DIFFERENCE! They can't wait to get back to their next High School Re-union and tell about their exploits helping to save the COLE and helping their Shipmates. Just a typical day on CAM.

I said the typical day provided MOST of the retention answer....what is the rest? LIBERTY in a GREAT PORT with the Men and Women you have just bonded to in a way that "land lubbers" will never understand. That will have to be covered in a subsequent e-mail because so far on this cruise we haven't HAD ANY LIBERTY!!! Here is my challenge; if I don't produce some great ports at least on the way back home...I will lose the edge we have generated so far. So this is the key to retention: Hard work in a PROFESSION (the PROFESSION of NAVAL ARMS) that is MAKING A DIFFERENCE and GREAT LIBERTY to reward those efforts. Take it to the Bank! Just a typical day on CAMDEN!!!

From: LT John D. Cassani [SMTP:jdcassani@anchorage.navy.mil]
jdcassani@anchorage.navy.mil
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2000 1:31 AM
Subject: FW: News from the USS COLE

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 meals. 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 (walls) and descriptions and photos of the description have filtered to our ship. It is amazing that more were not killed. It is equally amazing that it is still afloat. They are truly heroes. We all have a lot to do to save this vessel but the crew of the Cole has endured the brunt of it so far. 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 (Supply Officer) was injured and flown home. The disbo (Disbursing Officer) 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 reins, 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.

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 10:26 p.m. EST
Navy Lieutenant Reports Cole Is 'Hell on Earth'
A U.S. Navy lieutenant assigned to the USS Dawes, a ship now supporting the USS Cole in Yemen, has written a moving e-mail discussing the situation on the scene. The remarkable description reveals the fears of U.S. sailors aboard the Cole who won't even eat food provisioned from the local Yemenites. The lieutenant writes:

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 (officer's quarters), 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."

Email Commentary

Allow me to introduce myself. I am OSCS(SW) Burton Swanson, stationed onboard the USS Camden (AOE-2). I recently was emailed the url to your website after emailing with a friend.

I just wanted to say thank you for your time and effort in creating the site. It is very informative and appropriate. It was good to see some of the emails I have personally had enter my inbox, sitting on your site. I spent many days off the coast of Aden during the events that unfolded after the explosion and I must say I am proud of all of the sailors, CAMDEN, HAWES, DONALD COOK and especially those onboard the COLE.

I had one of my OS's on a Rescue and Assistance team that spent many hours onboard the COLE assisting with DC. He came back a different person. When we started shuttling COLE personnel onboard I was surprised to see a name of a person I knew from some years back. An OS onboard the Cole that worked for me when I was stationed on the Nimitz a few years back. It amazed me how composed the young man was. Every sailor that came across from the COLE was like that. They had been through hell yet they came over to my ship, ate hot food, showered, changed into clean dry clothes and slept. Not one complained. Nothing. All of them had their spirits high.

Bottom line... many sailors have lost their lives over the course of our history. Many, many military personnel have given the ultimate sacrifice. We as a country should NEVER forget this. I was pleased to visit your site and I simply wanted to share a little of my memory with you. Again, I appreciate what you have done.

I've been reading the USS COLE info at this site and even forwarding it to some friends who I know really care. I think Pat L. from Chicago said it best with "once a Navy family, always a Navy family". I am always proud to tell people that my Uncle gave such a large part of his life to the USN, but never more so than in the face of such tragedies. These are the times when the rest of the country takes off their blinders and realizes that serving in the Armed Forces is more than just a way to earn college money or see new and exciting places, it is way of saying "I still believe in what our fathers and Mothers meant this flag to stand for, I still believe that this IS the greatest country in the world even with all it's faults and short-comings, and I still believe that the freedoms and opportunities that this great country affords its people are worth the greatest sacrifice I have to offer!" While I know that no words can quell the pain and sorrow that the loved ones of those lost are feeling, I hope that they can take some small solace in knowing that there are people everywhere, strangers and friends alike, that have cried for their families and are proud of people they have never even met. My heart and prayers go out to the families and friends of these people who have indeed made the ultimate sacrifice.

"Thanks for the info on the Cole. Nobody around here (Ohio) seems to realize how dangerous it is to be overseas, especially in the Middle East. I went berserk when I saw the pictures of the ship. I'm afraid, however, that nothing is going to change as long as our government is doing "business" as usual with countries who are our enemies (I'm talking PRC and every Middle Eastern country except Israel). I don't see many prospects for improvement during the election in November, either. I'm disgusted with the crap that the United States is forced to take due to a lack of backbone in the Executive office and a neutered United Nations".

Ken K.
Assistant Professor and Head of Public Services
Zimmerman Law Library
University of Dayton School of Law

"Right now I'm part of the CCDG-3 Staff / Abraham Lincoln Battle Group, embarked on USS Abraham Lincoln. USS Cole was on her way over to, you-know-where, to be a part of our Battle Group. I can tell you, the shock of the USS Cole tragedy is as strong here as it is back home. As you well know, the threatcon set stateside (having to show your Military ID card a few extra times, and maybe a vehicle search once in a while) is nothing compared to what it is in this part of the world. Every space on the ship has CNN blaring, looking for USS Cole updates. The more senior people have message traffic privileges, but most rely on their chain of command and CNN for updated information. It is truly a sobering experience. All of us feel deeply for the families of our deceased shipmates. We are very proud of them and of our shipmates who survived and battled to save their ship.

" It is truly amazing what our troops can do---and actually do on a daily basis. I wish that all the "Flag Burners" truly understood what we, the military, do to protect their right to burn the flag as a daily routine".

"I have already sent a donation to the address that is on the site. I think what hurts me a lot is that the sneaks were waving to our sailors, as I understand its not unusual for small boats to go out and take a look around and then that despicable act. Last night on 20/ 20 they did a segment on the ship and interviewed, I believe a Chief, who was badly injured, he said that he was use to taking care of his men, and now they were taking care of him. Someone told me that once your a navy family, you always are, and how true that is, and it was an assault upon every one that is and has served in the great United States Navy. I am praying for all of them, living thru such unbearable conditions. I am so proud to be the Mother of a Chief [Ret.], and proud to be an American. and I am grateful to God that my boy was able to come home after all those years. My heart is breaking for the families. God bless the men and women and the families who are suffering. There are people out here who care and are remembering them in our prayers."

Thanks for the info and sharing with us what we do not see, hear or learn of what is really going on.....I'm certain that you know me well enough to know that from the first breaking news of the attack that I felt great sadness for all those sailors and for the families.....and tremendous anger at those responsible. How dare them!!!!!! Having had my younger brother serve in the UNITED STATES NAVY, for 22 years, with undeniable loyalty and dedication, I tend to take things like this very personal. My heart goes out to all of the men and women aboard that ship as well as to friends and family. And as one of the officers said.....even thru it all, when he looks up and sees the STARS AND STRIPES blowing in the wind.....well it just warms our hearts and should remind all of us to say Thanks now and then to all those who keep this country from greater harms way.

As for the government and how they spend OUR money.....yes, it disgust all of us to see homeless people living amongst garbage; and we never know which of them may have served in the armed forces, or which father may have lost his son or daughter in the line of duty, and yes, it sickens me when I see our judicial system give more rights to the criminal than to the victim (with my son being a COP, I too hear some things that the news never reports)...but what probably sickens me more than anything else that goes on in this world is the fact that right here in the US, we have CHILDREN who are homeless and hungry.......THAT IS HORRIFIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I love my country but I do not agree with much of what our government does....wake up America.....it is time to take care of our own.....THOSE THAT DESERVE TAKING CARE OF.......THE VETERANS, THE CHILDREN, THE HOMELESS...........STOP SPENDING MY MONEY ON THE RAPIST, MURDERERS, CHILD MOLESTERS, DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND SO ON.

And stop pussy footin' around with any and all terrorist.....don't make idle threats, DO SOMETHING SO THAT OUR INNOCENT PEOPLE HAVE NOT DIED IN VAIN

From a very proud sister, who's brother served in the USN for 22 years and will always feel a personal connection to all of our Naval personnel.

Hi-Rez Picture (835K)




SPY-1 Radar Array	SPY-1 Radar Array	SPY-1 Radar Array		MER1 (Main Engine Room)	Crews Messdecks

Photos Courtesy US Navy Web Site

Ramstein AFB, Germany, Oct. 13, 2000 — The first of those killed aboard USS Cole (DDG 67) in Aden, Yemen – victims of a suspected terrorist attack – are carried by members of a U.S. Air Force Honor Guard from within an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. The attack took place in the Yemeni port city of Aden. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Jerry King			San Diego, Calif., Oct. 20, 2000 — The National Ensign is lifted from the casket of Seaman Recruit Likiba Nicole Palmer as she is laid to rest in Mt. Hope Cemetery, San Diego, CA. SR Palmer was one of 17 Sailors killed in the Oct. 12 terrorist attack on USS Cole (DDG 67) in the port of Aden, Yemen. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Chuck Cavanaugh.

The Truth

USS Cole sailors say sentries on deck, bearing unloaded weapons, were ordered not to fire unless fired upon even immediately after the destroyer was bombed. The Washington Post is reporting in its Tuesday issue that recent interviews with 20 crew members have also revealed:

The destroyer's rules of engagement, approved in advance by the Pentagon, kept its guards from firing upon the small boat loaded with explosives as it neared them without first obtaining permission from the Cole's captain or another officer.

Petty Officer John Washak said that right after the small boat blew a 40-by-40-foot hole in the destroyer's side, killing 17 of its crew, a senior chief petty officer ordered him to turn an M-60 machine gun on the Cole's fantail away from a second small boat approaching. "With blood still on my face," he said, he was told: "That's the rules of engagement no shooting unless we're shot at. "In the military, it's like we're trained to hesitate now. If somebody had seen something wrong and shot, he probably would have been court-martialed." Petty Officer Jennifer Kudrick said that if the sentries had fired on the suicide craft "we would have gotten in more trouble for shooting two foreigners than losing 17 American sailors."

The boat that exploded may have attempted first to tie up to the Cole's stern, then after being ordered away moved to the port side of the hull. Some crew members took it to be a harmless local craft hired by the Cole to assist it in mooring. FBI investigators said Islamic militants, even one of the suicide bombers, may have boarded and surreptitiously surveyed the Cole as it transited the Suez Canal a few days before the attack Oct. 12 in the harbor of Aden in Yemen, where it was to refuel. The FBI questioned crew members about the "agitated" behavior of the Yemeni pilot who guided the Cole into port.

From media reports it appears that the skipper of USS Cole did all in his power to protect his ship and crew, and his leadership apparently saved lives. President Clinton described the attack on Cole as an act of cowardice and of terrorism. It was of course neither. It was a well-planned act of war by obviously brave and disciplined warriors almost certainly supported by one or other enemy states who view America and Israel as mortal enemies.

The truth is inconvenient to the "peace process," and will be put in the memory hole, just as it was after Syria killed 241 American Marines in Beirut. We will instead blame it on Osama bin Laden or some mythical person. Other than President Clinton's traditional lobbing of a few cruise missiles, we can be certain that there will be no retaliation.

Another inconvenient fact sure to be stuffed down the memory hole is the obscene failure of intelligence. Obviously our vast centralized intelligence bureaucracy did not warn the skipper of Cole of the severe danger. But of course, no one could be surprised by intelligence failure. In 14 years of government service in three administrations I observed many historic crises, and in every one the consolidated product of the intelligence bureaucracy either failed to provide warning, as in Kuwait, or was grossly wrong in its assessment, as in the Yom Kippur War. Every national security adviser and every tactical commander from Elliott Abrams to Norman Schwartzkopf has deplored this scandal, but nothing is ever done. Cole is the latest victim of a $30 billion jobs program that takes the most wondrous products of space and electronic technology and turns them into useless mush.

If Cole had been warned, the ship would have avoided this notorious port. If for some reason and armed with warning, they were needed in harm's way tried-and-true measures can be taken to protect stationary ships. We kept many ships off Beirut for years without a successful attack, although there were several attempts.

But why was this single ship sent to Aden at the height of an anti-American crisis, in a nation notorious for harboring terrorists sponsored by Iraq and other rogue states? As Nimitz famously signaled to Halsey, "The world wonders."

While state departments in every administration want to treat naval ships like so many cost-free chess men, in recent years the profligate willy-nilly deployments have been running all of the services into tatters. During the Reagan years of Cold War activism, the Navy was deployed to crisis areas beyond ordinary deployments an average of 5 1/2 times per year, which fully stretched a Navy of nearly 600 ships. Over the same time span in the Clinton years, the Navy deployed out of the routine 12 1/4 times per year with a fleet that has been slashed to only 318 ships. This has not only destroyed morale, retention and family life, but it also has exposed a less-ready, thinned-out fleet to many more hazardous duty station s.

As the Navy learned at Okinawa, where 35 ships were sunk by kamikazes, it is impossible to protect completely against suicide attacks. The only defense is good intelligence and the will to retaliate against the source. The American government has neither.

The writer was Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan Administration.
2000 The Washington Post

The Clinton administration was complicit in the terrorist attack on the USS Cole last Thursday, when a bomb blast ripped a gaping hole in the state-of-the-art destroyer as it was about to refuel in the port of Aden, Yemen, leaving 17 American sailors dead and another 37 wounded. That was the charge leveled by defense expert and military reporter Col. David Hackworth Monday night, in a heated debate on the Fox News Channel over whether military cutbacks over the last eight years have left the U.S. fleet vulnerable to just such an attack.

"Complicity starts at the top of the chain of command, with the president," Hackworth told FNC's Hannity & Colmes, "and works down through the secretary of defense, to all the admirals and generals to the very skipper of that ship." "Everyone knew that port was a hotbed -- it was Club Med for terrorists," said Hackworth, who is also the most decorated combat veteran of the post World War II era.

His debating partner, House Armed Service's Committee member Robert Andrews (D-NJ), tried to defend the administration -- saying that Hackworth was "second guessing our men in the field." But the old soldier would have none of it.

"It's not a matter of second guessing, it's a matter of fact,” Hackworth responded. "Osama Bin Laden and his gang, a month before, announced that 'We're gonna spill some American blood in the Middle East.' It's a fact that the intelligence community has known for several months that an American ship was going to go down. Why did we send a ship there?"

Hackworth answered his own question: "We sent a ship there, according to (Naval Operations Chief Admiral Vern) Clark simply because, he said, we had no oilers to refuel that ship at sea." Hackworth said the Navy's inability to refuel at sea was a direct result of declining military readiness during the Clinton-Gore years. "We go to the point of readiness. Admiral Clark, the chief of naval operations, said, 'Look, we had to go there because we couldn't refuel at sea cause we don't have any tankers, any oilers.' So as a result of that, why don't we have any oilers? Why didn't the chiefs of the United States Navy sound off?"

"We've got this argument going on between Bush and Gore," said Hackworth. "Bush says readiness sucks. Gore says everything's peachy keen. All of the brass are sitting there with their mouths shut. But now we don't have enough oilers to refuel that ship and we lose those people because our readiness is not squared away?" Hackworth confirmed that 22 of the Navy's refueling tankers have been placed in mothballs since 1993, and that the overall fleet had declined from 435 ships to 311 during the Clinton-Gore years.

Congressman Andrews had no explanation for why the administration had mothballed the oilers, complaining only that "partisanship should stop at the water's edge." "That ship that was taken out of the Middle East was part of a battle fleet," Hackworth responded. "They stripped it from the battle fleet, they said go all by yourself, stop at Aden, get some refueling, and then go up in the Gulf. And that shows you how stretched our United States Navy and our total military really is."

"It's a national disgrace and somebody should hang," said Hackworth, who then looked at Andrews and added, "and it should start right with you congressfolks."

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 — The Pentagon’s top intelligence expert on terrorist threats in the Persian Gulf resigned shortly after the USS Cole was attacked in Yemen, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Wednesday. NBC News has identified the expert as Kie C. Fallis, who wrote he was not allowed to “play a meaningful role” in the analysis of the region. Also Wednesday, Yemen’s president released new details on the suspects in the bombing, one of whom he said was Egyptian.

NEWS OF Fallis’ resignation came at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing at which Army Gen. Tommy Franks, commander in chief of the central command, said the military had received no “specific threats” about Aden in advance of the attack. Franks told senators that U.S. warships had made nearly 30 safe visits to Aden since January 1999, although he conceded the military and U.S. intelligence agencies knew Yemen had been a haven for anti-Western guerrilla groups. “However, leading up to the attack on USS Cole on 12 October, we received no specific threat information for Yemen or for the port of Aden ...,” he said at the hearing Wednesday. “Had such a warning been received, action would have been taken by the operating forces in response.”

On Oct. 13, MSNBC.com reported that the military hadn’t fully implemented a report issued last year that recommended much tighter security in Aden before U.S. ships were allowed to use the port. Officials believe two suicide bombers maneuvered a small boat next to the Cole and detonated it, killing 17 U.S. sailors and injuring 39. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Senate committee, mentioned Fallis’ resignation Wednesday but declined to name him or release a copy of his resignation letter, which was dated Oct. 14, two days after the attack on the Cole. But according to information obtained by NBC News, Fallis wrote that he was resigning due to “significant differences with my management during the past month that culminated ... with the suicide bombing attack against the USS Cole.” Fallis said his analysis could have played a critical role in the ability of military intelligence to predict and warn of a potential terrorist attack against U.S. interests. “Unfortunately, despite my repeated efforts to interject this research, I was not allowed to play any meaningful role in current intelligence production of this subject.”

Furthermore, Fallis said that his analysis suggests “two or three other major acts of anti-U.S. terrorism could potentially occur in the coming weeks or month(s).” Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. said Fallis was interviewed for six hours by the Intelligence Committee’s staff. “What he felt is that his assessment was not given that proper level of consideration by his superiors and, as such, was not incorporated in” the final intelligence reports provided to military commanders in the Gulf, Warner told reporters after the committee’s hearing. Fallis did not say he identified a specific threat against the Cole, but was concerned no alert was issued to U.S. Central Command to change the threat condition by which the military operates in that region, Roberts said. Fallis worked mainly on “the big picture” of the region, Roberts said. “However if you combine the big picture with other alerts and other indicators, I think his position is that it’s a no-brainer to assume a notice warning should have been sent and the threat condition should have been changed,” Roberts said. Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon commended Fallis for his service. “The analyst did good work at the agency,” he said in a statement.

EGYPTIAN CONNECTION?
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Wednesday that one of the men believed to have bombed the USS Cole was an Egyptian, and several senior members of a Muslim militant group have been detained in connection with the blast. An earlier report said the suspects spoke with a Saudi accent. “It’s possible to imitate an accent,” Saleh said when asked whether his disclosure contradicted the earlier report.

Saleh said the detainees — including Yemenis, Egyptians and Algerians — belonged to Islamic Jihad. He described the group as consisting of Arabs who fought Soviet troops in Afghanistan. Terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden was prominently involved in the Afghanistan resistance, but Saleh declined to say whether the attackers or detainees had any connection to bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network, which was blamed for the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa and many other terrorist attacks. “It is not right to say so-and-so. We shall await the outcome of the investigation. The results will be out soon,” Saleh said in an interview with MBC television, a Saudi-owned satellite channel broadcast from London. The question of who carried out the attack continues to focus on bin Laden’s network, however.

“All roads are leading to bin Laden, with the bulk of the reporting connecting things to ’(bin Laden) associates,’ but we are nowhere near the smoking gun yet,” a senior counter terrorism official told NBC News. “But we will get there. No one believes we won’t get there, but right now no one would feel comfortable going after him, both because of what we don’t know and because the Middle East is so hot right now.”

MORE DETENTIONS IN YEMEN
Also on Wednesday, sources in Aden said a Yemeni carpenter who allegedly helped the Cole’s attackers refit their boat to carry explosives and a woman who bought the car they used to haul the boat have been detained. The Yemeni sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press, said charges had not yet been filed in either case. The carpenter confessed Tuesday that he had helped two men modify a small boat to carry explosives and then helped them load the explosives into the boat. It was not immediately clear if the man knew what the two planned to do with the bomb-laden boat. He was not named.

Security officials in Taiz, northwest of Aden, said they had detained a woman who confessed the men gave her money to buy a car in her name that they used to haul their boat to shore. The woman was identified only as a Somali. No other details were immediately available. As the investigation in Yemen continues, the FBI has begun to reduce the number of investigators originally sent there to help, U.S. officials told NBC News. Among the first investigators to return were those sent to collect evidence. FBI divers are also leaving, having finished their work to recover pieces of the Cole and the boat that carried the explosives, the officials said.

FBI agents still on the scene are continuing to work on at least four crime scenes: two houses used by the alleged terrorists, the site where the small boat laden with explosives was apparently launched, and another house or apartment that investigators believe was chosen by the bombing conspirators because it had a view of the harbor where U.S. ships refueled and was possibly used as a lookout site. It may also have been used by the conspirators to watch the explosion, U.S. officials said.

MULTIPLE TERRORIST THREAT
On Tuesday, the United States closed embassies across the Islamic world and put its troops in the Middle East on high alert after concluding that the Cole attack was just one of three planned attacks. U.S. government and counter terrorism officials told NBC News on Tuesday that intelligence suggested the other two targets were a U.S. military facility and an American embassy in the Middle East.

“They’ve obviously scored on one; we’re doing everything possible to keep them from carrying out the other two,” said one official, who like all of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity. Officials said the information leading to the high alert was based on an analysis of intelligence data gathered before and after the blast in Yemen. Based on actions taken since then, the list of potential targets included a U.S. airbase in the southeastern Turkish city of Incirlik; the U.S. embassies in the capitals of Qatar and Bahrain; and U.S. forces based in Qatar and Bahrain. The sources said that immediately after the Cole attack, Turkish officials warned the United States of a threat to the airbase in Incirlik. The Pentagon quickly increased security there, and officials now say that may have thwarted an attack on the base, which is used by British and American forces in patrols over northern Iraq’s “no-fly zone.”

On Wednesday, the Associated Press cited a senior defense official as saying that the targets included a school in Bahrain that is attended by American and other international children. The school was closed indefinitely on Monday. ABC News reported Wednesday that, according to intelligence sources, U.S. officials also uncovered plans for a terrorist attack on a military airfield in Bahrain used by U.S. aircraft. ABC said the plan called for a suicide bomber to drive a vehicle loaded with explosives onto the runway and underneath an American airplane and to blow it up. ABC also reported that at least one suspected terrorist is believed to be in custody in Bahrain.

In announcing the decision to put U.S. military forces in the region on “Threat Condition Delta,” the highest of five states of alert, Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said Tuesday it was based on intelligence reports of “multiple threats” from “multiple sources.” He said the threats were specific, but that the credibility of the sources was unknown. Separately, the State Department announced late Tuesday that its large embassy in the southeast Asian capital, Jakarta, had also been shut after a threat and would remain closed through Friday. On Wednesday, several hundred Indonesian students marched on the U.S. embassy in Jakarta and condemned the U.S. position on the Mideast conflict, which they see as unfairly favoring the Israelis. Indonesia has the largest Islamic population in the world, and has never recognized Israel.

NBC’s Joel Seidman and Jim Miklaszewski in Washington, Robert Windrem in New York and Pat Dawson in Aden, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

PASCAGOULA, Miss. — The USS Cole, the destroyer damaged 18 months ago in a terrorist attack that killed 17 seamen, is back in the water and ready to return to Navy service.

Several hundred Cole crew members, Gulf Coast residents and employees of the Northrop Grumman Ingalls shipyard gathered Sunday to celebrate completion of repairs to the ship.

"It feels pretty good right now, especially since we didn't know how it was going to all come together," said Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Aaron Morgan, 30.

Morgan was one of about 30 members of the present crew who were aboard the Cole on Oct. 12, 2000, when a small boat laden with explosives was detonated beside the ship in the Yemeni port of Aden.

In addition to the 17 who were killed, 37 sailors were injured in the blast, which tore a hole in the ship's side.

Last Friday, the newly restored Aegis guided-missile destroyer set sail on a two-day sea trial.

"It's been a long time coming," said Cmdr. Kevin Sweeney, who took charge of the destroyer last year.

The Cole will get an official send-off this Friday before it sails back to its homeport of Norfolk, Va.

"During sea trials, she performed better than expected," Sweeney said. "There were a lot of risks and an enormous amount of work involved in the repair. ... We're very pleased with the new ship."

"Now when we go overseas we'll be looking at it not just as an opportunity to see other countries, but what those other countries might do to us," he said.

Navy Official web page on the USS Cole attack	Emails from on-scene
Message from Commanding Officer, USS Cole (DDG 67)	Email Commentary from across America
Message from the Command Master Chief, USS Cole (DDG 67)	Pictures
Donation information for USS Cole Memorial Fund	The Truth
Profiles of 17 Shipmates	Hundreds Gather to Celebrate End of Repairs to USS Cole

Links:

Profiles of the USS Cole victims

Emails from on-scene

Email Commentary

The Truth