R 171405Z OCT 00  ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
CNO WASHINGTON DC
USS COLE//CO//
BT
UNCLAS  //N01000//
ALMAR 037/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/COURAGE, RESOLVE AND THE U.S. NAVY BIRTHDAY//
REF/A/121335Z OCT 00/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
AMPN/U.S. NAVY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FROM CMC//
POC/CPL WOODS/ADMIN CHIEF/CSG/TEL:(703) 614-2326
/EMAIL: WOODSJP@HQMC.USMC.MIL//
RMKS/1.  ON 12 OCTOBER, A HORRENDOUS BLAST SERIOUSLY
DAMAGED THE USS COLE, KILLING PRECIOUS AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND
WOMEN.  LATER THE CREW FACED ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES AS
BULKHEADS GAVE WAY AND THE SHIP TOOK ON ADDITIONAL SEAWATER.
AS EXPECTED, THE CREW OF THE USS COLE ROSE TO THE OCCASION AND
DISPLAYED EXTRAORDINARY TENACITY IN SAVING THEIR SHIPMATES AND
THEIR SHIP.  THROUGHOUT THIS ORDEAL, THESE COURAGEOUS SAILORS
HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE FORTITUDE AND CHARACTER THAT HAVE MADE
THE U.S. NAVY THE BEST NAVAL FORCE IN THE WORLD.
2.  THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE USS COLE WERE DOING WHAT NAVY
SAILORS HAVE DONE FROM THE VERY EARLIEST DAYS OF OUR NATION -
GOING IN HARM'S WAY IN SUPPORT OF UNITED STATES INTERESTS.
WHILE UNDERSTANDING THE POSSIBLE RISKS, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT
FORWARD ENGAGEMENT ENABLES WORLD STABILITY AND PEACE.  THIS
MISSION HAS BEEN A U.S. NAVY CORE STRENGTH SINCE ITS BIRTH.
3.  THIS TERRIBLE INCIDENT PUTS A SOMBER NOTE ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN A JOYOUS OCCASION AS WE COMMEMORATE THE U.S. NAVY BIRTHDAY. FOR
TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, NAVY SAILORS HAVE FOCUSED ON
MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THE SUCCESS OF OUR NATION.  THE ACTIONS
OF THE CREW OF THE USS COLE, OCCURRING WHILE THEY FACED THE
HEARTBREAKING LOSS OF THEIR SHIPMATES, CERTAINLY LIVED UP TO THIS
REPUTATION.
4.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST
SYMPATHY TO THE CREW, FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE USS COLE.  WE ARE
HEARTENED BY THE STEADFAST RESOLVE OF THE CREW OF THE USS COLE AND
ARE PROUD TO STAND FIRM ALONGSIDE OUR NAVY BRETHREN IN SERVICE TO
OUR NATION.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS.  J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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