At the beginning of a busy week, A. and I had a chance to visit the USS Cole, a proud vessel in the service of the United States Navy. The Cole was brutally attacked on 12 October 2000, a year before 9/11, by adherents of the “Religion of Peace”.
Cole is afloat again, and has no crewmembers remaining from that event. But it hasn’t forgotten it: the names of the fallen are recorded on a plaque a short distance from the place where they were killed; the flag that flew during and after the attack is displayed with pride in the enlisted men’s mess; and the Medal of Honor hero who died at Iwo Jima, Darrell S. Cole, for whom the vessel is named, has a plaque in his honor nearby.
Sergeant Cole; USS Cole’s Flag; Casualties
Our tour guide was a young lieutenant who showed us all over the ship. It’s good to see that people haven’t forgotten about the Cole bombing. Let’s try our best not to. On the foremast, they fly the Navy Jack; it reads “Don’t Tread On Me.”
Don’t Tread On Me
Thanks to my friend Chris for arranging a tour for A. and myself.
On The Flight Deck
It’s Darrell Samuel Cole, not Daniel. My husband, STGCM Paul Abney, was in the Chief’s Mess when the bomb hit. Thank you for remembering our brave men and women. We have a service at the Cole Memorial on the base in Norfolk at 9am every Oct 12 and then go on the Cole afterwards. You’re welcome to join us any time.
Comment by Jan Abney — November 10, 2008 @ 18:46
Ms Abney -
Name corrected. I’m sorry I got it wrong – the link goes right to the Wikipedia entry, which has the correct name in the URL – just mistyped it.
I am honored to have your post on the subject. Norfolk is a bit of a reach for me; I was able to tour the ship while it was at Newport, RI.
Whenever I meet a veteran at a convention or a book event I shake his or her hand and say, “thank you for serving our country.” I would have been honored to shake your husband’s hand as well. I grew up in an era when we had lost sight of the bravery and sense of duty with which our military personnel conduct themselves, and I am concerned that another such era will return.
I will keep October 12 in mind. Thanks again.
Comment by hotc — November 12, 2008 @ 00:06