At 11:18 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2000, when the USS Cole was moored in Aden, Yemen, a small craft approached the ship and detonated an explosive device.
The blast caused a 40-by-60-foot hole in the ship’s port side. The attack killed 17 crewmembers and injured 37 additional sailors.
Navy officials said crewmembers fought the fires and stopped the flooding for hours following the attack. The Cole returned to sea in 2002.
There was a pierside ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk Monday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Cole.
Adm. Christopher W. Grady, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Cole’s fifth commanding officer, reflected on those killed in the attack, but also recognized the heroic actions of the crew.
Here are the names of the sailors killed in the attack:
- Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Kenneth E. Clodfelter, 21, of Mechanicsville, Va.
- Chief Electronics Technician Richard Costelow, 35, of Morrisville, Pa.
- Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina M. Francis, 19, of Woodleaf, N.C.
- Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy L. Gauna, 21, of Rice, Texas
- Signalman Cherone L. Gunn, 22, of Rex, Ga.
- Seaman James R. McDaniels, 19, of Norfolk, Va.
- Engineman 2nd Class Marc I. Nieto, 24, of Fond du Lac, Wis.
- Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Ronald S.Owens, 24, of Vero Beach, Fla.
- Seaman Lakiba N. Palmer, 22, of San Diego, Calif.
- Engineman Fireman Joshua L. Parlett, 19, of Churchville, Md.
- Fireman Patrick H. Roy, 19, of Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y.
- Electronics Warfare Technician 1st Class Kevin S. Rux, 30, of Portland, N.D.
- Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester M. Santiago, 22, of Kingsville, Texas
- Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy L. Saunders, 32, of Ringgold, Va.
- Fireman Gary G. Swenchonis, Jr., 26, of Rockport, Texas
- Lt. j.g. Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss.
- Seaman Craig B. Wibberley, 19, of Williamsport, Md.
Here’s video of the ceremony:
Information from the U.S. Navy.
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