The Unseen Here and Now . . .

2002 Archives

2001 Archives

2000 Archives

Stuart Revercomb

Stuart Revercomb is a marketing consultant and joyously married father of four children. He seems to remember someone once telling him he ought to be a writer. "The Unseen Here and Now" -- Thursdays.

E-MAIL

Click Here
to subscribe to
"Thursday's Fare"

I'm not exactly earning my pay this week, but the following offers such a unique perspective on an event that has been so prominent in the news that I feel compelled to share it. It is an e-mail forwarded to me that originated from a Pilot who flies a SH60B Seahawk helicopter off the USS Hawes. The Hawes is presently acting in support of the USS Cole, which was attacked while refueling in Aden, Yemen, on Oct. 12th.

The correspondence is remarkable for several reasons, not the least of which is that it demonstrates what is often the failure of modern journalism to convey the human and "real life" aspects of even the most "covered" stories.

Sometimes only those truly attached to an experience can breathe the kind of life and perspective into an event that connects us to our common humanity. Such is the case with the thoughts I received from a man I know only as Lieutenant Landry.

May God continue to watch and keep the young men and women who serve us so well, so courageously and so far from home.

"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 and 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 -- 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 seventeen 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."

V/R

Forwarded by Tony Polozzolo (USS WHITMAN, DE24) DESA News volunteer

Official site of the USS Cole with relief and contact information: http://www.spear.navy.mil/ships/ddg67/