USS COLE CASUALTY UPDATE

= N  E  W  S      R  E  L  E  A  S  E
=
= OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
= (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
= WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
=
= PLEASE NOTE DATE
====================================================

No. 648-00
(703)695-0192(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2000
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
USS COLE CASUALTY UPDATE

The following list confirms the names of those killed in the terrorist attack on USS Cole.
Asterisks indicate the sailors who were posthumously promoted to the indicated ranks because
they were eligible to take advancement examinations.

Hull Maintenance Technician Second Class* Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, 21, of Mechanicsville, Va.
Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer* Richard Costelow, 35, of Morrisville, Pa.
Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, 19, of Woodleaf, N.C.
Information Systems Technician Timothy Lee Gauna, 21, of Rice, Texas
Signalman Seaman* Cherone Louis Gunn, 22, of Rex, Ga.
Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, 19, of Norfolk, Va.
Engineman Second Class Marc Ian Nieto, 24, of Fond du Lac, Wis.
Electronics Warfare Technician Second Class* Ronald Scott Owens, 24, of Vero Beach, Fla.
Seaman* Lakiba Nicole Palmer, 22, of San Diego, Calif.
Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, 19, of Churchville, Md.
Fireman* Patrick Howard Roy, 19, of Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.
Electronics Warfare Technician First Class* Kevin Shawn Rux, 30, of Portland, N.D.
Mess Management Specialist Third Class Ronchester Manangan Santiago, 22, Kingsville, Texas
Operations Specialist Second Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, 32, of Ringgold, Va.
Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., 26, Rockport, Texas
Ensign Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss.
Seaman* Craig Bryan Wibberley, 19, of Williamsport, Md.

Two injured crewmembers remain in Landstuhl, Germany, at this time.  Remains of eight Cole sailors
arrived at Dover Air Force Base today, and the final four remains are due to arrive in the next couple
of days.  Information on arrival time will be provided by Dover AFB.  Following autopsy and identification,
the remains will be turned over to the families.

Today the Navy also clarified some details about initial reports of the terrorist attack against USS Cole.
According to ship records, the explosion occurred at about 11:18 a.m. local time in Yemen, not 12:15 p.m. as
previously reported.  USS Cole had completed mooring operations at 9:30 a.m. local time.  Refueling operations
commenced at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time and were ongoing at the time of the terrorist attack. [Local
time in Yemen is seven hours later than Eastern Daylight Time.] Earlier statements were based on the initial
voice and relayed reports from the ship that were not confirmed.  As previously reported, the explosion caused
the Cole to lose power and disabled all onboard communications assets.  As is often the case, these initial
relayed reports contained some errors, and in some cases may have been misunderstood.
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