Thank you Larry for sending this out. You're right, there are alot of us that
served.
Herb
Larry Miller wrote:
> I just got an e-mail from a young pilot that fly's SH-60B's off the USS
> Hawes. Since there are a lot of ex-military on this list 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 state room, 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 that 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 what 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 hell hole 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."
>
> LT Landry USN
>
> Larry Miller
> http://www.ado13.com
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