October 12, 2000
Several small boats approached to assist in the mooring. Crew members were on deck, armed and at attention. At 12:15, a small boat pulled alongside the Cole. Two men stood up and the boat exploded.'
The blast ripped a 40-ft. by 40-ft. hole in the Cole's port side.
17 Sailors were killed, 39 wounded.
The rules of engagement, as approved by the Pentagon, prevented the Cole's guards from firing upon the explosives-laden boat as it neared them without first obtaining permission from the Cole's captain or another officer.
Petty Officer John Washak said that right after the blast, a senior chief petty officer ordered him to turn an M-60 machine gun on the Cole's fantail away from a second small boat approaching.
"With blood still on my face I was told: "That's the rules of engagement: no shooting unless we're shot at."
Petty Officer Jennifer Kudrick said that if the sentries had fired on the suicide craft "we would have gotten in more trouble for shooting two foreigners than losing seventeen American sailors."
Electronics Technician First Class Richard Costelow
Signalman Seaman Recruit Cheron Ouis Gunn
Seaman James Rodrick McDanielsSeaman Recruit Lakiba Nicole Palmer
Operations Specialist Second Class Timothy Lamont SaundersEnsign Andrew Triplett
Seaman Apprentice Craig Bryan WibberleyHull Maintenance Technician Third Class Kenneth Eugene ClodfelterMess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique FrancisInformation Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee
Texas Engineman Second Class Mark Ian Nieto Electronics Warfare Technician Third Class Ronald Scott Owens Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon ParlettFireman Apprentice Patrick Howard Roy Electronics Warfare Technician Second Class Kevin Shawn RuxMess Management Specialist Third Class Ronchester Mananga SantiagoFireman Gary Graham Swenchonis, Jr.
Requietum En Pacem, Sailors
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