USS Cole bombing

USS Cole (DDG 67) suffered severe damage October 12, 2000 in a terrorist bombing attack when the ship was in the port of [Aden, Yemen]?, for a routine fuel stop. Seventeen sailors were killed and 39 others were injured in the blast which blew a hole in the port side of the destroyer. Then-President Bill Clinton declared "If, as it now appears, this was an act of terrorism, it was a despicable and cowardly act. We will find out who was responsible and hold them accountable." No action was taken.

Cole was transported from Aden by the Norwegian heavy transport ship M/V Blue Marlin. She arrived in Pascagoula December 24, 2000.

On January 19, 2001, The Navy completed and released its Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) investigation of the incident, concluding that Cole's commanding officer "acted reasonably in adjusting his force protection posture based on his assessment of the situation that presented itself" when Cole arrived in Aden to refuel. The JAGMAN also concluded that "the commanding officer of Cole did not have the specific intelligence, focused training, appropriate equipment or on-scene security support to effectively prevent or deter such a determined, preplanned assault on his ship" and recommended significant changes in Navy procedures.

The Casualties

• Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, 21, of Mechanicsville, Va.
• Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, 35, of Morrisville, Pa.
• Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, 19, of Woodleaf, N.C.
• Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, 21, of Rice, Texas
• Signalman Seaman Cherone Louis Gunn, 22, of Rex, Ga.
• Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels?, 19, of Norfolk, Va.
• Engineman 2nd Class Marc Ian Nieto, 24, of Fond du Lac, Wis.
• Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Ronald Scott Owens, 24, of Vero Beach, Fla.
• Seaman Lakiba Nicole Palmer, 22, of San Diego, Calif.
• Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, 19, of Churchville, Md.
• Fireman Patrick Howard Roy, 19, of Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.
• Electronics Warfare Technician 1st Class Kevin Shawn Rux, 30, of Portland, N.D.
• Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester Manangan Santiago, 22, Kingsville, Texas
• Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, 32, of Ringgold, Va.
• Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., 26, Rockport, Texas
• Ensign Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss.
• Seaman Craig Bryan Wibberley, 19, of Williamsport, Md.

See also terrorism, terrorist incidents.