Seven Years Ago Today…
…another chapter in the Long War against terror is written:
The toll:
* Seventeen American Sailors dead:
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Hull Maintenance Technician Second Class* Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, 21, of Mechanicsville, Va.
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Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer* Richard Costelow, 35, of Morrisville, Pa.
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Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, 19, of Woodleaf, N.C.
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Information Systems Technician Timothy Lee Gauna, 21, of Rice, Texas
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Signalman Seaman* Cherone Louis Gunn, 22, of Rex, Ga.
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Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, 19, of Norfolk, Va.
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Engineman Second Class Marc Ian Nieto, 24, of Fond du Lac, Wis.
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Electronics Warfare Technician Second Class* Ronald Scott Owens, 24, of Vero Beach, Fla.
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Seaman* Lakiba Nicole Palmer, 22, of San Diego, Calif.
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Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, 19, of Churchville, Md.
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Fireman* Patrick Howard Roy, 19, of Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.
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Electronics Warfare Technician First Class* Kevin Shawn Rux, 30, of Portland, N.D.
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Mess Management Specialist Third Class Ronchester Manangan Santiago, 22, Kingsville, Texas
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Operations Specialist Second Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, 32, of Ringgold, Va.
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Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., 26, Rockport, Texas
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Ensign Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss.
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Seaman* Craig Bryan Wibberley, 19, of Williamsport, Md.
* Thirty-nine injured…
* A ship grievously injured…
Yet with skill and verve, the crew saved their ship…
She would be resurrected:
Repaired:
and returned to the Fleet to re-enter the fight:
Godspeed the USS Cole and her crew … and may we never forget…
Others Remember:
excellent stuff as always SJS.
Thank you, sir, for listing the names and ranks of the fallen. We need to remember the loss to better appreciate the gains…of the Navy and of all our Troops.
May you have a blessed and happy weekend.
Veritas et Fidelis Semper
The USS Cole was a sister ship in the Mayport Basin. When the Cole was attacked everyone in the basin felt attacked.
May our shipmates be gentle in God’s Hand with only following seas to comfort them. May Allah’s horse defecate on the
tortured souls of those that attacked the USS Cole. But then ask me how I really feel….
SJS—Once again you have appropriately honored those whom the rest of America have forgotten.
Nicole Palmer will never be forgotten…From one Navy female to another…we miss you. Your mom is SOOOO proud of you.