DC MUSEUMS

USS COLE 12 October 2000 – 12 October 2010

The tenth anniversary of the Cole Incident.

Introduction

October the 12th will mark the tenth anniversary of the attack on the USS COLE, while the ship may be back in normal steaming operation the lasting impact on the Damage Control community and the United States Navy remains permanently imbedded. Like several ships before her, USS FORRESTAL (CVA 59), USS STARK (FFG 31) and USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG 58), the USS COLE (DDG 67) stands tall to the testament that Damage Control is more than drills. It is a mental state of mind that no matter the overwhelming challenge shipmates can overcome great obstacles. No fire is too hot, no flooding is too deep, and no damage can take my ship out from underneath me. From the incident there have been several changes and improvements across the Navy to continuously improve readiness for the in-service surface fleet ships by adding Damage Control and Personnel Protection equipment. Also at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes today in Battle Stations 21, there is a challenge for every new sailor to experience a Cole type scenario. For every ship, boat, or commercial vessel that enters the Norfolk Harbor and passes Willoughby Bay, they pass right by the Cole Memorial that forever stands to that tragic day and to those who lost their life. The memorial is also accessible when driving on the Naval Base via Hughes Drive.

Onboard the USS Cole a daily reminder in the form of the “Hall of Hero’s” is a dedication to the 17 shipmates killed with a plaque of their names and 17 stars imbedded in the deck stands for all to see.

While we should never forget this date, 12 Oct. 2000, we must not get complacent in our everyday routines. As we walk our own ship both underway and inport we must think about and plan our survival based on how the Cole sailors fought in darkened spaces, no power or limited power, no firemain pressure or limited systems reconfiguration, and without the comforts of electronics, radios, hotel services, and basic day-to-day comforts. We owe it to those that overcame the challenges and those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom to make our ships ready, make our teams ready, and at all cost “Don’t Give up the Ship”.

This website is a vast bank of knowledge and an information resource from past and present damage control community members to assist in learning the tactics, tips and techniques used every day for damage control and personnel protection safety. Shipmates we need to “LIVE IT, LEARN IT , AND PASS IT ON.”