Posted by TerryS (198.133.22.73) on October 19, 2000 at 23:53:53:
Subject: Fw: FYI Re: USS COLE
Re: Help for the USS Cole
> >>> > "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."
> >>> >
> >>> > Please feel free to pass this on to those you think will appreciate
> >>it.
> >>> >
> >>> > V/R
> >>> > LT Landry >