ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
PRIORITY
P 130215Z OCT 00 ZYB MIN PSN 562159S28

FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVOP

UNCLAS //N05000//
NAVOP 011/00

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO N00//

SUBJ/EXPLOSION ABOARD USS COLE//

RMKS/1. AT APPROXIMATELY 0915Z (0515 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME), WHILE MOORING TO A FUELING FACILITY IN YEMEN, USS COLE (DDG 67) WAS APPARENTLY ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS IN A SMALL BOAT. ALTHOUGH THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN, THERE IS NO REASON TO THINK THAT THIS WAS ANYTHING BUT A CALCULATED, BRUTAL ACT OF TERRORISM. NO ONE HAS YET CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY.

2. A VERY POWERFUL EXPLOSION TORE A 20X40 FT HOLE IN THE PORT SIDE OF COLE. AS OF LATEST REPORTS, 6 COLE SAILORS ARE DEAD, 35 WOUNDED, AND 11 MISSING. COLE IS LISTING FOUR DEGREES AND HAS REGAINED ELECTRICAL POWER. HER CREW RESPONDED SWIFTLY AND COURAGEOUSLY TO CONTROL THE FLOODING AND DAMAGE FROM THE EXPLOSION, AND I COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR SUPERB EFFORTS. MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT ARE ON SCENE AND MORE ARE ON THE WAY. USS HAWES AND USS DONALD COOK ARE MAKING BEST SPEED TO RENDER ASSISTANCE.

3. USS COLE'S HOMEPORT IS NORFOLK, VA. ATLANTIC FLEET PERSONNEL ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO NOTIFY ALL COLE FAMILIES ABOUT THE STATUS OF THEIR LOVED ONES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY TRYING TIME FOR THE SAILORS AND FAMILIES OF COLE, AND I ASK EVERYONE IN OUR NAVY TO JOIN IN SUPPORT AND PRAYERS FOR THEM. OURS IS A LARGE NAVY, BUT WE ARE STILL ONE NAVY FAMILY. WE STAND WITH COLE, AND WE MOURN THE LOSS OF OUR SHIPMATES IN SERVICE, SHIPMATES WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY.

4. OURS IS A DEMANDING AND DANGEROUS PROFESSION. STAY SHARP. SAIL SAFELY AND SAIL READY.

5. ADMIRAL VERN CLARK SENDS.//

BT

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