LEST WE FORGET - THE USS COLE - 18th ANNIVERSARY

Let's not forget the sailors who died on the USS Cole 18 years ago, and let's not forget that the fifth century scum who did it are still out there.

On October 12, 2000, USS Cole, under the command of Commander Kirk Lippold, set in to Aden Harbor for a routine fuel stop. Cole completed mooring at 0930. Refueling started at 1030. Around 1118 local time, a small craft approached the port side of the destroyer, and an explosion occurred, putting a 40-by-60-foot gash in the ship's port side. The attack was the deadliest against a U.S. Naval vessel since the Iraqi attack on the USS Stark (FFG-31) on May 17, 1987.

Those who died were:

Electronics Technician 1st Class Richard Costelow

Mess Management Specialist Lakina Francis

Information Systems Technician Tim Guana

Signalman Seaman Recruit Cherone Gunn

Seaman James McDaniels

Engineman 2nd Class Mark Nieto

Electronics Warfare Technician 3rd Class Ronald Owens

Seaman Recruit Lakiba Parker

Engineman Fireman Joshua Parlett

Fireman Apprentice Patrick Roy

Electronics Warfare Technician Kevin Rux

Petty Officer 3rd Class Ron Santiago

Operations Special 2nd Class Timothy Sanders

Fireman Gary Swenchonis Jr

Ensign Andrew Triplett

Seaman Apprentice Craig Wibberly

Fair seas to all.