I just got an e-mail from a good friend of mine who flys SH-60B's off the USS Hawes. I
thought you might like to read it.
"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, 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."
Author Unknown
This was posted at a bulletin board at GIJargon.com by a man who goes by SquidChief:
I have an ex-shipmate who is now on station and I recieved this from him, I'll provide
translation if needed:
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 meal. 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 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. The keel is ripped apart and at present cannot
even be towed to open water to be placed on a dry-dock
vessel. The #1 engine room is flooded solid, as is AUX 1. The Messdecks deck is now
pressed against the overhead. The entire galley was pushed to
the starboard side and the equipment is unrecognizable. This is where many crew
members died. The ship was very nearly lost.
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.
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.
