USS Cole Heads Out for First Overseas Deployment Since Bombing

AP | 11/29/03

[kattracks]

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The USS Cole and its crew of 340 pulled out of port Saturday for the destroyer's first overseas deployment since it was bombed by terrorists three years ago in Yemen's port of Aden. A crowd of about 100 family members watched as the ship left the Naval Station Norfolk at 12:55 p.m.

"The families are sad to see their sailors leave, but they know they have a job," said Lt. j.g. Kelley Anderson, a Navy spokeswoman.

The guided-missile destroyer was brought back to the United States and underwent $250 million in repairs at Northrop Grumman's Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi following the Oct. 12, 2000, attack. Two suicide bombers had driven an explosive-packed boat into the side of the Cole, tearing a large hole in the ship.

The explosion killed 17 crew members, wounded 39 and nearly sank the destroyer.

Earlier this week, Yemeni security forces captured the suspected mastermind of the attack, Mohammed Hamdi al-Ahdal. A U.S. counterterrorism official in Washington who confirmed the Tuesday capture said al-Ahdal had been among the top 20 al-Qaida figures at large.

The Cole and two other destroyers in the Norfolk-based Surface Strike Group, the USS Thorn and USS Gonzalez, are now scheduled to head to the Mediterranean Sea for about six months, Anderson said. They officially are part of the Enterprise carrier strike group, which left in October.

The three ships had been scheduled to leave Friday, but 10-foot to 14-foot waves along its planned route prompted the Navy to delay the departure.

[gogipper]

In our paper the Cole bombing was described as the incident that began the war on terrorism. Watch how the liberal media rewrites history every day. The response to the Cole was sending FBI agents to Yemen. That's law enforcement not war. George Bush, not Bill Clinton rose to the threat of world-wide, state-sponsored terrorism

[MEG33]

Good grief.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Clinton was the chief enabler of 911.

FReepers were even saying it that day on threads. It was that obvious.

[StriperSniper]

had been scheduled to leave Friday, but 10-foot to 14-foot waves along its planned route prompted the Navy to delay the departure.

Last year a Long Island shark tournament wasn't canceled in similar conditions!

(Granted, one boat was lost, but it was a 25' Grady White, big difference.)

[steve86]

The three ships had been scheduled to leave Friday, but 10-foot to 14-foot waves along its planned route prompted the Navy to delay the departure.

Other than the grammatical inconsistency, I wonder if 10-foot waves are really an insurmountable obstacle to a destroyer? If so, maybe the enemy could recruit a thousand Moslems to jump up and down on their side of the pond.

[snippy_about_it]

bump. Good to see her back in action.

[Jacquerie]

Yeah, for the cost to repair a nearly sunk Cole ($250 million) over three years, we now spend that much to buy a single aircraft, the F-22 Raptor!

[TalBlack]

Wow! Out of action for 3 years and a 250 million repair bill! Those miscreants got a SERIOUS amount of bang for their terrorist investment!

And we didn't even retaliate for the bombing.

They do this a few more times and they will do to us what Reagan did to the USSR: bankrupt us!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

WHY did there have to be...

...an Attempt to...

..'SINK the COLE'..

...the very day before...

...VP AL GORE was scheduled...

...to lose his 2nd Presidential...

...TV Debate in a row to...

...GEORGE W. BUSH..?


...I wonder if the Debate Sponsor...

...League of Women Voters...

...would have cancelled the Debate...

...if the COLE really had sunk,

don't you..

[Psycho_Bunny]

The USS Cole and its crew of 340 pulled out of port Saturday for the destroyer's first overseas deployment since it was bombed by terrorists three years ago in Yemen's port of Aden.

Go get some, baby! You've earned the right to fire in anger.

And good luck.

[MeanAsSnake]

...and to have the GM blast any small crafts which get with in 100 yards of the ship. Something they were not allowed to do last time! God Bless them and keep them.

[Mr. Silverback]

Sailor Doug Malott and girlfriend Rebekah Concuelo say their good-byes Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, in Norfolk, Va., as the USS Cole in the background prepares to leave the Norfolk Naval Station on it's first overseas deployment since it was bombed by terrorists three years ago in Yemen's port of Aden. (AP Photo/The Virginia-Pilot, Mark Mitchell)

The ship's namesake:

Sergeant Darrell Samuel Cole, United States Marine Corps Reserve (Deceased)

USS COLE (DDG 67) is the first warship named for Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, USMC (1920-1945). Sergeant Cole was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry in the campaign at Iwo Jima.

On August 25, 1941, Cole enlisted in the Marine Corps for the duration of the National Emergency. Following boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, he was appointed to the Field Music School for training as a Marine Corps Field Musician (a bugler). He was unhappy in his role of Field Musician, because he had joined a fighting outfit to fight. He had applied for a change in rating, but was refused due to the shortage of buglers. He completed instruction and was transferred to the First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division. On August 7, 1942, he reached the shores of Guadalcanal for the first American offensive of World War II, where he had an opportunity to fill in as a Machine Gunner in the absence of the regular gunner.

Cole completed his first overseas tour of duty and returned to the United States in February 1943 where he joined the First Batallion, Twenty-Third Marines, a part of the Fourth Marine Division at Camp Lejune, North Carolina. When the unit moved to California he again asked for relief as a Field Musician and for permission to perform line duties. Due to the shortage of buglers in the Marine Corps, his request was disapproved.

During the first engagement of the Fourth Division at Roi-Namur in the Kwajalein Atoll, Cole, again forsaking his bugle, went in to action as a Machine Gunner. Later, during the battle for Saipan, Cole was actually assigned to a machine gun unit and was even designated as a machine gun section leader. During the battle his squad leader was killed and Cole, although wounded, assumed command of the entire squad. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for "…his resolute leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious determination in the face of terrific opposition." He was also awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action.

A few days after the battle of Saipan, Cole again led his squad ashore in the invasion of the neighboring islands of Tinian. He continued to build his reputation as "The Fighting Field Musician."

After the Marianas campaigns, he resubmitted his request for a change of rating. This time his request was approved. He was redesignated Corporal "line" and was subsequently promoted to Sergeant in November 1944.

On February 19, 1945, Sergeant Cole led his machine gun section ashore in the D-Day assault of Iwo Jima. Moving forward with the initial assault wave, a hail of fire from two enemy emplacements halted his section's advance. Sergeant Cole personally destroyed them with hand grenades. His unit continued to advance until pinned down for a second time by enemy fire from three Japanese gun emplacements. One of these emplacements was silenced by Cole's machine guns. When his machine guns jammed, armed only with a pistol and one hand grenade, Sergeant Cole made a one-man attack against the two remaining gun emplacements. Twice he returned to his own lines for additional grenades and continued the attack under fierce enemy fire until he had succeeded in destroying the enemy strong points.

Upon returning to his own squad, he was instantly killed by an enemy grenade. By his one-man attack and heroic self-sacrifice, Sergeant Cole enabled his company to move forward against the fortifications and attain their ultimate objective.

The ship's coat of arms:

SHIELD
Dark Blue and gold represent sea faring excellence and are traditionally associated with the Navy. Red, for blood and courage, denotes Sergeant Cole's valor and sacrifice. A trident symbolizes sea prowess and COLE's modern warfare capabilities. The three tines represent surface, submarine, and air warfare capabilities. Three hand grenades commemorate Sergeant Cole's heroic one-man grenade attach against enemy emplacements during the assault on Iwo Jima. A broken chevron alludes to Sergeant Cole's breaking the enemy's hold, enabling his company to attain it's ultimate objective. The grenades also represent the traits courage, valor and honor, commemorating Sergeant Cole's fighting spirit and dedication.

CREST
A blue reversed star represents the Medal of Honor posthumously awarded to Sergeant Cole for his self-sacrifice and extraordinary heroism. The crossed navy sword and Marine Mameluke signify cooperation within and the fighting spirit of the Naval Service. A French horn combined with two swords underscores his service with the Marine Corps as a Field Musician and reminds us of his nickname, "The Fighting Field Musician." The laurel wreath is emblematic of honor and high achievement.

MOTTO
GLORIA MERCES VIRTUTIS
"GLORY IS THE REWARD OF VALOR" underscores the spirit of Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, his extraordinary heroism, his unwavering loyalty to his country, and his bravery in facing adversity without fear. "A DETERMINED WARRIOR"

Fair winds until you return, patriots of USS Cole!

[Monty22]

I hope they are really on the ball this time. islamics tend to not leave their targets standing (WTC).. And will come back to finish them off.

[doug from upland]

MIDI - END OF THE INNOCENCE

For several years they sang his song…he was a hero to their cause
In denial many lived…he placed himself up above the laws
He knew all of the right things to say…down through…hell and then back believers would go
In eight long years he's done to us…more damage than you know

For his neglect we would finally pay the price…the count's three thousand dead
We know just where to place the blame…it is on Bill Clinton's head
When the Cole was hit and brave men died…there is no doubt that he hadn't cried
He looked at his polls and sighed
Now this is the end…this is the end…of his legacy

At OKC he saw his chance…he needed to divide us all
He would create the vast right wing…and his mind-numbed fools would pick up the ball
So we'd fight among ourselves…and the…grand scheme had worked, he got his way
With our attention diverted he…would gut the CIA

For his neglect we would pay the price…the count's three thousand dead
We know just where to place the blame…it is on Bill Clinton's head
When the Cole was hit and brave men died…there is no doubt that he hadn't cried
He looked at his polls and sighed
Now this is the end…this is the end…of his legacy

We endured a psychopath…who saw himself as the Rockstar Prez
We had sent the warnings out…watch what this man does, not what he says

For neglect we paid the price…when those great buildings fell with many dead
And we know just where to place the blame…it's on Bill Clinton's head
When the Cole was hit and brave men died…there is no doubt that he hadn't cried
He looked at his polls and sighed
Now this is the end…this is the end…of his legacy

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET

...The Presidential TV Debates Sponsoring League of Women Voters came within a eyelash of cancelling the 3rd and Final TV Encounter between GORE & BUSH in St. Louis, Missouri on the day of the Debate...

...the day after a plane crashed just outside St. Louis carrying the Governor of Missouri.

CLINTON M.O. =

"It's the TV, Stupid, no matter WHO pays for it"

...............still.


NEVER FORGET

[jrushing]

It's amazing that they carried this ship from Yemen to Pascagoula, Ms on a floating "dry dock" vessel. God bless our troops & Sgt. Cole.

Link

[StriperSniper]

I wonder if 10-foot waves are really an insurmountable obstacle to a destroyer?

Not even close, but it would make for a bit of a bumpy ride. My guess is they had either some ceremony that they didn't want messed up by a Gale, or all the provisions and stuff wasn't properly stowed yet and would have got messy. The ship wouldn't have any real problem with navigating in seas of that size, but the main deck would definately get very wet with the steep waves. I just checked and if they are heading SE, 150 miles out, seas are still 14.4', down from 17'. If they are heading ENE, about 250 miles out, seas are 23' and building. Due East, about 70 miles out, seas are 7.2' and falling.

[VOA]

Watch how the liberal media rewrites history every day. The response to the Cole
was sending FBI agents to Yemen. That's law enforcement not war.

I am so sorry I can't remember the name of the author of a book written about
the Clinton "response" to the Cole bombing.
I heard the author interviewed on talk radio (KRLA 870AM in Los Angeles, probably).
The author said that he'd managed to get personal interviews with each of the
Clinton appointees who met to consider the "response" to the incident (there were something
like 5-10 people in attendance).

But the most chilling thing was that the actual security official interviewed said
that he detailed the attack, likely link to Osama, and course of action. This guy thought
"Yes, I've made the case and we're going after the terrorists who did this!".

However, as the discussion worked it's way around the table, it turned out that
the security official was the ONLY one in favor of real action. All the others
(including Madaleine Albright, IIRC) had "reasons" for not forcefully responding.

[StriperSniper]

If the day before didn't work, try the day of.

Thanks for pointing out those "coincidences", I never thought about them.