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USS Cole (DDG 67) hosted a pierside ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 12, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on Cole, to honor the Sailors killed and to celebrate the heroism of the ship’s crew. Many of Cole’s Gold Star families and “Cole Heroes” attended the ceremony. 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. “We were extremely proud to take Cole on her returning deployment. And, we were inspired to honor our fallen shipmates, and felt a deep sense of responsibility to live up to the examples set by our predecessors,” said Grady, the commanding officer who led Cole on her first deployment following the attack. “To this day, I am still inspired by my experiences in command when the crew would respond, almost instinctively, to the challenges we faced with, ‘We want to deploy. We have to do the hardest stuff. We have to do this right, because the 17 would have it no other way.’” Grady introduced Adm. Robert J. Natter, retired, commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Fleet Forces Command from 2000-2003, who described the overwhelming response from the Hampton Roads community, state and local leaders, shipyard workers, the FBI, international partners and allies, all asking what they could do to help. “Cole answered the call that day, they answered the call to general quarters, they answered the call to duty, exactly as they had sworn their oath to do, and exactly how they were trained to do,” said Natter. Each speaker said these heroes embodied the “Determined Warrior” culture the Cole crew strives to carry on today. “Today, the crew of USS Cole is preparing and training for our next deployment, and our Sailors proudly shine 17 gold stars laid into the deck of the mess line every day,” Cmdr. Edward Pledger, current Cole commanding officer, said. “These stars are a tribute to the 17 Cole Heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, and they remind me how today’s Determined Warriors carry on the fighting spirit of those who went before us.” During Grady’s remarks, he introduced a video about Battle Stations 21, the Navy’s Recruit Training Center’s damage control trainer in Great Lakes, Michigan. The trainer exposes all new recruits to an emergency response scenario based on the Cole attack, ensuring future generations of Sailors carry forward the warrior spirit of Cole. The video can be found online here:
USS Cole (DDG 67) hosted a pierside ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk Oct. 12, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on Cole, to honor the Sailors killed and to celebrate the heroism of the ship’s crew.
CDR Richlyn Ivey
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