HRES 631 IH

Honoring the members of the crew of the guided missile destroyer U.S.S. COLE (DDG-67) who were killed or wounded in the terrorist bombing attack on that vessel in Aden, Yemen, on October 12, 2000, expressing the sympathies of the House of Representatives to the families of those crew members, commending the ship's crew for their heroic damage control efforts, and condemning the bombing of that ship.

October 17, 2000

Mr. SPENCE (for himself and Mr. SKELTON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

Honoring the members of the crew of the guided missile destroyer U.S.S. COLE (DDG-67) who were killed or wounded in the terrorist bombing attack on that vessel in Aden, Yemen, on October 12, 2000, expressing the sympathies of the House of Representatives to the families of those crew members, commending the ship's crew for their heroic damage control efforts, and condemning the bombing of that ship.

Whereas the guided missile destroyer U.S.S. COLE (DDG-67) was severely damaged on October 12, 2000, when a boat bomb exploded alongside that ship while on a refueling stop in Aden, Yemen;

Whereas the explosion resulted in a 40-by-45 foot hole in the port side of the ship at the waterline and left seven of the ship's crew dead, ten of who as of October 17, 2000, are missing and presumed dead, and over three dozen wounded;

Whereas the U.S.S. COLE had stopped in Aden for routine refueling while in transit from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf to conduct forward maritime presence operations in the Persian Gulf region as part of the U.S.S. George Washington battle group;

Whereas the members of the United States Navy killed and wounded in the bombing were performing their duty in furtherance of the national security interests of the United States;

Whereas United States national security interests continue to require the forward deployment of elements of the Armed Forces;

Whereas the members of the Armed Forces are routinely called upon to perform duties that place their lives at risk;

Whereas the crew members of the U.S.S. COLE who lost their lives as a result of the bombing of their ship on October 12, 2000, died in the honorable service to the Nation and exemplified all that is best in the American people; and

Whereas the heroic efforts of the surviving crew members of the U.S.S. COLE after the attack to save their ship and rescue their wounded shipmates are in the highest tradition of the United States Navy: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives, in response to the terrorist bombing attack on the U.S.S. COLE (DDG-67) on October 12, 2000, while on a refueling stop in Aden, Yemen, hereby--

(1) honors the members of the crew of the U.S.S. COLE who died as a result of that attack and sends heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones.

(2) honors the members of the crew of the U.S.S. COLE who were wounded in the attack for their service and sacrifice, expresses its hopes for their rapid and complete recovery, and extends its sympathies to their families;

(3) commends the crew of the U.S.S. COLE for their heroic damage control efforts; and

(4) condemns the attack against the U.S.S. COLE as an unprovoked and cowardly act of terrorism.

END