This was sent to me today. Sorry if the format is bad, or if it has previously been posted.
The following gives a flavor of why we are here:
I just got an e-mail from a friend of mine whose son flies SH-60B's
off the USS Hawes. I thought you might like to read it.
"It wasn't until a few days ago though, that we started doing something
that I feel may be the first thing I've seen in my short Naval career that
has truly made a difference. Right now we're supporting the USS COLE
and her crew in Aden.
When the attack occurred we were a day away. Just by luck we happened
to be on our way out of the Gulf and headed towards the Suez and could
get here in a relatively short amount of time. I know what you all have
seen on CNN, because we have seen it too. I just want you all to know
that what you see doesn't even scratch the surface. I'm not going to get
into it for obvious reasons. But, I will tell you that right now there are
250+ sailors just a few miles away, living in hell on Earth.
I'm sitting in a nice air-conditioned stateroom, they're sleeping out on
the decks at night. You can't even imagine the conditions they're living
in, and yet they are still fighting 24 hours a day to save their ship and
free the bodies of those still trapped and send them home. As bad as
it is, they're doing an incredible job. The very fact these people are
still functioning is beyond my comprehension. Whatever you imagine as the
worst, multiply it by ten and you might get there. Today I was tasked to
photo rig the ship and surrounding area. It looked so much worse than
I had imagined, unbelievable really, with debris and disarray everywhere,
the ship listing, the hole in her side.
I wish I had the power to relay to you all I have seen, but words just
won't do it. I do want to tell you the first thing that jumped out at me -
the Stars and Stripes flying. I can't tell you how that made me feel...even
in this God forsaken hellhole our flag was more beautiful than words
can describe. Then I started to notice the mass of activity going on below,
scores of people working non-stop in 90 plus degree weather to save this
ship. They're doing it with almost no electrical power and they're sleeping
(when they can sleep) outside on the decks because they can't stand the
smell or the heat or the darkness inside. They only want to eat what we
bring them because they're all scared of eating something brought by the
local vendors. Even with all that, the USS COLE and her crew is sending
a message guys, and it's that even acts of cowardice and hate can do
nothing to the spirit and pride of the United States. I have never been so
proud of what I do, or of the men and women that I serve with as I was
today.
There are sixteen confirmed dead sailors who put it on the line for all of
us, and some of them are still trapped here. Please take a minute to pray
for their families and say a word of thanks for their sacrifice - one made
so that we can live the lives that we do. All of you that serve with me,
thank you. All of you that have loved ones that serve, thank you."
V/R
LT
The following gives a flavor of why we are here:
I just got an e-mail from a friend of mine whose son flies SH-60B's
off the USS Hawes. I thought you might like to read it.
"It wasn't until a few days ago though, that we started doing something
that I feel may be the first thing I've seen in my short Naval career that
has truly made a difference. Right now we're supporting the USS COLE
and her crew in Aden.
When the attack occurred we were a day away. Just by luck we happened
to be on our way out of the Gulf and headed towards the Suez and could
get here in a relatively short amount of time. I know what you all have
seen on CNN, because we have seen it too. I just want you all to know
that what you see doesn't even scratch the surface. I'm not going to get
into it for obvious reasons. But, I will tell you that right now there are
250+ sailors just a few miles away, living in hell on Earth.
I'm sitting in a nice air-conditioned stateroom, they're sleeping out on
the decks at night. You can't even imagine the conditions they're living
in, and yet they are still fighting 24 hours a day to save their ship and
free the bodies of those still trapped and send them home. As bad as
it is, they're doing an incredible job. The very fact these people are
still functioning is beyond my comprehension. Whatever you imagine as the
worst, multiply it by ten and you might get there. Today I was tasked to
photo rig the ship and surrounding area. It looked so much worse than
I had imagined, unbelievable really, with debris and disarray everywhere,
the ship listing, the hole in her side.
I wish I had the power to relay to you all I have seen, but words just
won't do it. I do want to tell you the first thing that jumped out at me -
the Stars and Stripes flying. I can't tell you how that made me feel...even
in this God forsaken hellhole our flag was more beautiful than words
can describe. Then I started to notice the mass of activity going on below,
scores of people working non-stop in 90 plus degree weather to save this
ship. They're doing it with almost no electrical power and they're sleeping
(when they can sleep) outside on the decks because they can't stand the
smell or the heat or the darkness inside. They only want to eat what we
bring them because they're all scared of eating something brought by the
local vendors. Even with all that, the USS COLE and her crew is sending
a message guys, and it's that even acts of cowardice and hate can do
nothing to the spirit and pride of the United States. I have never been so
proud of what I do, or of the men and women that I serve with as I was
today.
There are sixteen confirmed dead sailors who put it on the line for all of
us, and some of them are still trapped here. Please take a minute to pray
for their families and say a word of thanks for their sacrifice - one made
so that we can live the lives that we do. All of you that serve with me,
thank you. All of you that have loved ones that serve, thank you."
V/R
LT