“That day we had been pulling in, getting set as much as moor. As soon as we had been pierside, every little thing was good. Every thing was wonderful,” stated Mabry. “We thought it might be a daily port cease. It was proper earlier than lunch time, and the mess decks weren’t that full.”
The ship pulled into port for routine fueling when the horrific assault occurred. Mabry had talked about how pressure safety measures had been made extra thorough and given further consideration following the assault on the Cole, and spoke concerning the floating boundaries getting used at the moment, together with safety patrol boats and additional armed watches topside to stop comparable assaults from occurring. Sadly nevertheless, none of those procedures had been extant, or as adopted again then.
“Folks don’t notice however the boundaries we’ve got now, the watches we stand, the safety equipment in place is due to the USS Cole. Folks suppose it’s due to 9/11. 9/11 was not the rationale we do pressure safety the best way we do. It’s due to the Cole.”
For these not accustomed to the format of a guided missile destroyer, the engine room is positioned beneath the Chief’s Mess and mess decks. The blast was so energy full it upended the engine room into the Chiefs Mess and mess decks.
Mabry, a petty officer third class throughout the assault, was initially stunned by the explosion however kicked into an instantaneous war-fighting posture.
“When the occasion went down, I used to be on the aft finish of the ship, again by laundry,” stated Mabry. “I used to be strolling up from there, and when it hit, I hit the overhead and have become just a little delirious. The lights form of flickered after which went off. That’s once I knew there was an issue.”
Mabry knew that he needed to get to his common quarters station and be ready to battle for the ship, however he rapidly realized the immenseness and severity of the state of affairs.
“All I used to be considering was ‘get to my GQ station.’ I used to be making an attempt to get there by the starboard facet and it was blocked off. Subsequent I attempted to get to the port facet and it was additionally blocked off,” stated Mabry. “I went topside and everybody was yelling ‘get again within the pores and skin of the ship’ and that’s once I knew it was a success.”
Upon reaching the Fight Info Heart (CIC), Mabry came across a scene of destruction and devastation.
“Whereas touring to CIC. There was numerous smoke, hearth, water, and our bodies. Belongings you wouldn’t see on a traditional day. Belongings you would see solely in a horror movie.”
The blast in the end claimed the lives of 17 service members and wounded 39 extra. Among the many 17 deceased had been Seaman Lakiba N. Palmer, Signalman Cherone L. Gunn, and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Saunders. The lack of these three Sailors and associates had an enduring influence on a younger OS3 Mabry.
Petty Officer Mabry made three guarantees, “Seaman [Lakiba] Palmer wished to be the primary feminine Chief aboard a submarine,” stated Mabry. ”’I clearly couldn’t be a feminine onboard a submarine however I’ll fulfill that dream and make Chief. Quantity two, Seaman [Cherone] Gunn wished to outrank his dad who was an E7 (Sergeant First Class) within the Army. So he promised to meet the dream of being a Senior Chief for him. His third promise, OS2 [Timothy] Saunders, his entire objective in life was to be a Grasp Chief in america Navy, he and OS3 Mabry had the identical targets so he promised so long as the Navy would permit him to serve he would make Grasp Chief to meet his dream and likewise Mabry’s dream. These the place his three guarantees he made to the households of those who misplaced their love one on October 12, 2000.
As Sailors, we regularly discuss and mourn the occasions of September 11, and the significance of by no means forgetting those that misplaced their lives on that fateful day. Oppositely, we take pleasure in celebrating the Navy’s birthday on October 13. However we slowly have forgotten the occasion that modified the best way the Navy operates, an occasion that has had an enduring influence on the Navy for many years. It might be of profit to replicate on the sacrifices those that have served earlier than us have undergone. The worth they paid then is likely one of the causes we’re safer now.
“The Navy guarantees you that they’ll pay on your college they usually’ll present you the world, and this stuff are true and nice. However to be able to take pleasure in these advantages you place our life on the road, you increase your proper hand to defend and shield in any respect price and 17 Sailors did simply that for the American individuals and their fellow service members,” stated Mabry. “I might say ‘let’s not repeat historical past’. In 2000, 17 Sailors gave their lives for a lifestyle, in 2017, 17 Sailors gave their lives onboard the McCain and the Fitzgerald, let it not be one other 17 years that we give 17 or much more lives. We have now to know the issues that we do and the job that we’ve got, you should study it, you should comprehend it, and you need to perceive the seriousness of it each day. Do higher at the moment, study your job at the moment, be one of the best at what you do with the intention to come dwelling and revel in tomorrow.”
