Five years ago today al Qaeda-linked terrorists brought a small boat alongside the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Cole, and blew a hole in her side. Seventeen Sailors died, and the rest struggled like heroes in horrible conditions to keep her afloat.
They succeeded.
The dedication of her crew, as well as the US Navy’s hard-won experience in ship construction and damage control, ensured that the ship would survive this test, and return to the fight.
Although we didn’t know it at the time, the attempt to sink the Cole was just another unanswered blow in what was for eight years a one-sided contest: The 1993 WTC bombing, the 1996 attack on the USAF barracks in Saudi’s Khobar Towers and the bombings of US embassies in the east African countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Goaded at last beyond endurance by the attacks on our homeland on 9/11, the slumbering American giant awoke and went to war. And in the fury of our righteous anger, we freed 30 million minds.
Some of whom recently had an election.
Others of whom are preparing for a constitutional referendum.
A very few of whom, are fighting the process tooth and nail. And, for the most part, getting their collective asses kicked. While asking for a handout from their Sheik. From whom, no recent word has been heard. (And no, I don’t think we’re that lucky. But I can hope.)
Seventeen dead Sailors and a wounded ship, whom each will remember in their own way. There is a monument to them in Norfolk.
Me? I want to remember the Cole like this:
The way she is right now.
I didn’t know there was a monument in Norfolk. Thanks Lex for the info…
I was an NROTC mid then (had I finished school, I’d be in the Fleet now, but be that as it may) and what I remember most about it is that we were ordered not to wear our uniforms to class that week. I guess they were concerned that we might become targets. Lots of foreign nationals on campus. I had long ago recognized that there were people in the world who might wish to kill me, but that order made it just a bit more personal. Which might have been the idea too.
Beautiful, Lex.
Nice polite, “Get Some” brother!
Thank You and Happy Birthday!!
from a WWII Wave’s daughter ~
The Cole incident is one of those things you don’t forget about, but I’d forgotten it’s been 5 years today. Black Five and Michelle Malkin reminded me. … Navy officer Neptunus Lex remembers the heroism of the Cole’s crew and prefers to remember the Cole as she is today …
You always have a way with words, Lex. Nice tribute.
Non Sibi Sed Patriae!
Not just our Navy motto, the spirit of the Sailors and families of USS Cole.
Nice Lex, but I think it’s longer than 8 years.
Some would say the non-response or paralysis of the Carter Administration to the Iranian invasion of sovereign US territory in 1979 lit the fuse.
There’s a nice summary at:
http://www.factsandlogic.org/outstanding_jacoby.html
Jonboy – I agree the Iranian hostage crisis set in motion many things that precipitated the creation of OBL’s organization.
Personally, when I saw that “Checkerboard Towel Headed Ara-rat” packing a pistol at the UN in 1973, only one year after the Israeli athletes were killed at the ‘72 Olympics, is when I first noticed ‘em.
I’ll bet they would have been easier to stomp out then. Too bad.
B2