I can't speak for the other services, but for the Navy everything changed about our approach to doing business after that day. For decades we accepted watches with unloaded side arms. We never really considered the threats coming to us just thought about fighting a foe off in the distance. After the Cole we knew the enemy can be the tug boat, the fishing trawler, etc. The ship I was on then (San Jacinto) was doing work ups and it was a definite course changer for us. A year later we were in that area and had a tough decision situation. We came across a Yemeni vessel in distress and provided assistance. They were DIW and had been for over a week. We gave them food and water and after getting direction from above ended up towing them into Aden. You can bet there was some tension on board that night.
I can't speak for the other services, but for the Navy everything changed about our approach to doing business after that day. For decades we accepted watches with unloaded side arms. We never really considered the threats coming to us just thought about fighting a foe off in the distance. After the Cole we knew the enemy can be the tug boat, the fishing trawler, etc. The ship I was on then (San Jacinto) was doing work ups and it was a definite course changer for us. A year later we were in that area and had a tough decision situation. We came across a Yemeni vessel in distress and provided assistance. They were DIW and had been for over a week. We gave them food and water and after getting direction from above ended up towing them into Aden. You can bet there was some tension on board that night.
ReplyDeleteBill - Thank you for commenting. Your remarks are similar to those left on last years post by SB.
ReplyDelete