Guest guest Posted October 30, 2001 Report Share Posted October 30, 2001 Hi Everyone! Love, Cath Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 2:15 AM Subject: FW: we are not alone > This is an e-mail from a young ensign aboard USS Winston Churchill > (DDG-81) to his parents. (Churchill is an Arleigh Burke class AEGIS guided > missile destroyer, commissioned March 10, 2001, and is the only active US > Navy > warship named after a foreign national.). > > > Dear Dad, We are still at sea. The remainder of our port visits have all > been cancelled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and > forth within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security > watches, and trying to make the best of it. We have seen the articles and > the photographs, and they are sickening. Being isolated, I don't think > we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are > definitely feeling the effects. > > About two hours ago, we were hailed by a German Navy destroyer, Lutjens, > requesting permission to pass close by our port side. Strange, since > we're in the middle of an empty ocean, but the captain acquiesced and we > prepared to render them honors from our bridgewing. As they were making > their > approach, our conning officer used binoculars and announced that Lutjens > was flying not the German, but the American flag. As she came alongside > us, we saw the American flag flying half-mast and her entire crew topside > standing at silent, rigid attention in their dress uniforms. They had > made a sign that was displayed on her side that read " We Stand By You. " > There was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a > few minutes and saluted. It was the most powerful thing I have seen in my > life. > > The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly > been the highest point in the days since the attacks. It's amazing to > think that only half-century ago things were quite different. After > Lutjens pulled away, the Officer of the Deck, who had been planning to > get out later this year, turned to me and said, " I'm staying Navy. " > > I'll write you when I know more about when I'll be home, but this is it > for now. Love you guys. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 30, 2001 Report Share Posted October 30, 2001 Hi Everyone! Love, Cath Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 2:15 AM Subject: FW: we are not alone > This is an e-mail from a young ensign aboard USS Winston Churchill > (DDG-81) to his parents. (Churchill is an Arleigh Burke class AEGIS guided > missile destroyer, commissioned March 10, 2001, and is the only active US > Navy > warship named after a foreign national.). > > > Dear Dad, We are still at sea. The remainder of our port visits have all > been cancelled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and > forth within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security > watches, and trying to make the best of it. We have seen the articles and > the photographs, and they are sickening. Being isolated, I don't think > we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are > definitely feeling the effects. > > About two hours ago, we were hailed by a German Navy destroyer, Lutjens, > requesting permission to pass close by our port side. Strange, since > we're in the middle of an empty ocean, but the captain acquiesced and we > prepared to render them honors from our bridgewing. As they were making > their > approach, our conning officer used binoculars and announced that Lutjens > was flying not the German, but the American flag. As she came alongside > us, we saw the American flag flying half-mast and her entire crew topside > standing at silent, rigid attention in their dress uniforms. They had > made a sign that was displayed on her side that read " We Stand By You. " > There was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a > few minutes and saluted. It was the most powerful thing I have seen in my > life. > > The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly > been the highest point in the days since the attacks. It's amazing to > think that only half-century ago things were quite different. After > Lutjens pulled away, the Officer of the Deck, who had been planning to > get out later this year, turned to me and said, " I'm staying Navy. " > > I'll write you when I know more about when I'll be home, but this is it > for now. Love you guys. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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