I hadn't realized that the Cole was so big. Look at the people up on the bow for contrast.
Posted on 09/15/2001 2:27:23 PM PDT by blam
Cole launches a day ahead of schedule
Relaunch marks the completion of all structural repairs
09/15/01
By ANGIE DROBNIC
Business Reporter
The U.S. Navy launched the USS Cole back into the water Friday, a day earlier than scheduled, at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
The Navy gave no reason for the early launch. But the switch came only days after terrorists attacked New York and Washington D.C., leaving thousands dead.
Osama bin Laden, a Saudi exile operating out of Afghanistan, has been connected with those attacks as well as the terrorists who detonated an explosives-packed boat next to the Cole in the Yemen port of Aden on Oct. 12.
The Cole returned to the United States in December aboard the Norwegian heavy transport ship V Blue Marlin and was moved onto a land level facility near where the Cole was originally built at Ing alls Shipbuilding.
Restoration of Cole started in March, and repairs are expected to continue through April 2002.
The relaunch marks the completion of all structural repairs, said Capt. Philip Johnson, the Navy's Supervisor of Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. Other completed work includes the replacement of damaged and unserviceable equipment, and removal, evaluation and recertification of critical systems such as shafting and propellers.
Following the relaunch, work will be completed on component system assemblies; alignment of machinery; energizing, testing and alignment of all systems; and completion of logistics and supply support outfitting. The Cole will then be turned over to the crew for training and re-certification.
"The SUPSHINorthrop Grumman team is proud of the role we have played in restoration of the USS Cole, The Determined Warrior. Having the right team allowed us to complete repairs in an expeditious manner," said Johnson in a prepared statement.
LET HER STRIKE FIRST!</FONT SIZE>
Can I get an , "AMEN Brother!?"
Lynn Edwards Angell
Lynn Edwards Angell, a former Mountain Brook resident and Auburn University graduate, was on the American Airlines jet that was the first plane to slam into New York's World Trade Center.
Carl Max Hammond Jr
Hammond, 37, whose family now lives in Geneva, was among those on United Airlines Flight 175 that was hijacked and slammed into the second World Trade Center Tower. He graduated from Grissom High School and had recently moved to Boston to work at the MITRE Corporation.
Nehamon Lyons IV
Lyons was an operations specialist at the Pentagon. Lyons attended the University of South Alabama for almost three years after moving to Mobile in 1990 from Pine Bluff, Ark., to live with his aunt.
Terry Lynch
Terry Lynch, 49, who worked for Shelby 15 years, was attending a meeting at the Pentagon for the defense consulting firm Booz Allen & Hamilton when the jet hit there Tuesday morning.
Marshal Stallworth Ratchford
Ratchford was an information systems technician attack at the Pentagon. Ratchford, married and the mother of three children, ages 11, 8 and 1, graduated from LeFlore High School in 1985. She also attended Brazier Elementary and Pillans Middle School.
Ernie Willcher
A civilian lawyer for the Army for 40 years, was killed at the Pentagon. He was the brother-in-law of Louise Abroms and Paul Nagrodzki of Birmingham and son-in-law of Simon Nagrodzki.
Army Maj. Dwayne Williams
Army Maj. Dwayne Williams of Jacksonville 40, graduated from Jacksonville High School and the University of North Alabama, where he was a scholarship football player and majored in marketing. He had been working at the Pentagon since July.
As an Army vet, it always amazed me how Navy Vessels seem to have lives of their own, despite (or perhaps, because of) crew rotations, commanders, actions, etc. It only seems appropriate that they are so often referred to in the feminine third person, given the affection of so many rugged men. As the Cole puts out a day early, all I can think of is a simple adage that begins, "Hell hath no fury..."
I hadn't realized that the Cole was so big. Look at the people up on the bow for contrast.
I think that crew is eager to sail!!
PAY BACK TIME!!!
Give 'em HELL Troups!!
AND ALSO FOR THEIR MISSION...May She Sail Forever!
Baruch HaShem...FOR ADONAI'S GLORY!
Amen & Amen.
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