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Following was forwarded to SaveOurGuns
10/23/2000 and is stated to be "an email from a guy 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.
> > >name deleted
END
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FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN - NEVER
DISARM !
Children subjected to Government Medical experiments -
Auschwitz.
____________________________________________
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