National Cemetery Administration
Remembrance: Sailors of USS Cole attack
The USS Cole (DDG 67) underway to the Mediterranean Sea, approximately one month before being attacked by a terrorist-suicide mission on October 12, 2000, in Yemen. (U.S. Navy)The Attack
In August of 2000, USS Cole (DDG 67) sailed from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, to the Gulf of Aden, Yemen. On October 12, while refueling at port in Aden, two al-Qaeda terrorists in a speedboat detonated a bomb along the port side of Cole. The explosion tore a 40 by 60 foot wide hole into the side of Cole, killing 17 Sailors and wounding an additional 37 shipmates.
Aftermath
After the attack, the crew worked to minimize damage to the ship and administer first aid, ultimately saving both Cole and the lives of fellow Sailors. In total, the crew performed over 96 hours of damage control. Their sacrifice and perseverance that day exemplified the U.S. Navy's values of honor, courage, and commitment.
Cole received further repairs in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for 18 months after returning home to the United States. The ship returned to her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and resumed active duty in 2002.
Memorial
On October 12, 2001, one year after the attack, the USS Cole Memorial was dedicated at Naval Station Norfolk, the Navy base in Virginia, to honor the memory of the victims.
The two outer brass plaques on the granite bands list the names, ages, ranks, and hometowns of the USS Cole Sailors who were killed. The center plaque memorializes the crew's sacrifice and service, and the 17 granite slabs around the monolith represent each Sailor.
In Memory: 17 Sailors of USS Cole attack
The 17 Sailors killed in the attack on the USS Cole are listed below. All of these servicemembers were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Navy Unit Commendation.
NCA invites you to remember these servicemembers and visit those with memorial pages to celebrate the legacy, military service and sacrifice to our nation of these heroes. You can post tributes, upload images, and share biographical information, historical documents and more.
