Hello all,
A friend passed this on to me, I want to pass it on, since I served 23 yrs in the USAF it touches the heart.
CDR. Stephen W. Beckvonpeccoz, USN
USGET Executive Officer
FPO AP 96606-5603
Cell: (Dili and Australia) 0417-052-054
(From the US) 011-61-0417-052-054
This was written by a pilot who flys SH-60B’s off the USS Hawes.
"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."
Please feel free to pass this on to those you think will appreciate
it.
V/R
LT Landry
Thank you to all service man and women
Woor