# USS Cole **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 12, 2000, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685 "2000-10-12T16:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/1 "2000-10-12T16:31:18Z")
I just finished reading about the explosion aboard the USS Cole, in Yemen; Her home port is Norfolk, same as ChiefScott. At this time the exact cause is unknown. There are dead, injured and missing sailors. My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to these fallen comrades and their families. [http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/10/12/ship.rammed.05/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/10/12/ship.rammed.05/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Lnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Lnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lnix)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/2 "2000-10-12T16:38:13Z")
They have been hitting the terrorist angle really hard all morning. I don’t know which is worse,an accident or a boat full of homicidal a-holes. How scary. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/3 "2000-10-12T16:41:40Z")
Some later reports brought up the possibility of an accident while fueling. Not much comfort to those who lost loved ones, but may calm others. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/4 "2000-10-12T16:41:50Z")
I thought it was established that a raft full of explosives hit the ship? How is that an accident? ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/5 "2000-10-12T16:44:49Z")
It’s still a bit to early to tell what exactly happened. Video of the damage will tell us more than the sporadic reports coming through Fifth Fleet. The CNN video of the injured sailors in the Yemeni hospital is particularly disturbing – especially knowing that next of kin have yet to be notified. ---
**Author:** ![Lnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Lnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lnix)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/6 "2000-10-12T16:46:27Z")
OK, now the Pentagon is flat out saying it was a terrorist attack. 4 dead, 10 missing & feared dead, 350 evacuated. I feel sick. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/7 "2000-10-12T16:47:27Z")
Jesus. Chief, does the navy run any kind of fund for the families of the survivors that civilians can contribute to? ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/8 "2000-10-12T16:48:28Z")
CNN is now referring to it as a suicide terrorist attack. Makes you remember that even in peacetime, our military need to always be vigilant, because they are always in harm’s way as a target. Boy, the shit is hitting the fan in the world today … can you imagine if Israel had killed Arafat? ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/9 "2000-10-12T16:49:01Z")
It’s now been confirmed that the Fifth Fleet **is** treating this explosion as a terrorist attack. The actions of two men aboard the small boat were suspicious prior to the explosion. The damage, a large hole at the waterline and the flooding of the engine room, is catastrophic. The ship is DIW and won’t ever be able to get underway again until drydock repairs are made. The ship may be a total loss. ---
**Author:** ![Lnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/fbc32d/32.png) [@Lnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lnix)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/10 "2000-10-12T16:52:36Z")
I think I’m going to go find a sailor and say thank you. Boy, this has pushed my buttons, big time. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/11 "2000-10-12T16:55:33Z")
Beer, There is the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Servicemembers contribute to this fund. But more to your line of thinking, I assume, SURFLANT (Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic Fleet) will probably establish a fund for _Cole_ family members soon. ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/12 "2000-10-12T16:59:28Z")
Thanks for the updates, Chief. My heart aches and my anger burns. Vigilance is ever the price for our security, and once more American fighting men have paid the ultimate price, watering the tree of freedom with their blood. ---
**Author:** ![SILENT-BOB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@SILENT-BOB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SILENT-BOB)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/13 "2000-10-12T17:00:57Z")
:mad: 😕 ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/14 "2000-10-12T17:05:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Jesus. Chief, does the navy run any kind of fund for the families of the survivors that civilians can contribute to? My mom used to do some work with Navy Relief when I was a kid. I’ll have to look for a site. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/15 "2000-10-12T17:06:04Z")
Silent Bob sure seemed to sum it up appropriately. Chief, what would you recommend are the best things we mere civilians can do in terms of aid and help when something like this happens? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/16 "2000-10-12T17:07:40Z")
> [@](#): > > There is the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Servicemembers contribute to this fund. > > But more to your line of thinking, I assume, SURFLANT (Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic Fleet) will probably establish a fund for Cole family members soon. See what happens when I walk away? Thanks, Chief. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/17 "2000-10-12T17:08:24Z")
Damn. Damn. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/18 "2000-10-12T17:11:29Z")
Condolences from this retired chief. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/19 "2000-10-12T17:12:23Z")
Thanks, Chief. I’ll keep looking, or if you hear anything through your channels, please let us know. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2000, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685/20 "2000-10-12T17:26:00Z")
Aye, aye, **Beer**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-cole/36685.md?page=2)