patrickg
Veteran Member
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This e-mail, which is now in wide circulation, was written by a young
ensign on DDG81 USS Winston Churchill. It is from the 12 Nov Issue of
the Weekly Standard, which is a conservative weekly news magazine.
Dear Dad,
We are still at sea. The remainder of our port visits have all been
canceled.
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 the 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 a
half-century ago things were quite different. After Lutjens pulled away,
the Officer of the Deck, who had been planning to get out of the Navy
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.
{D185 Lutjens was built by Bath Iron works as DDG28 based on the Charles
Adams class; She has operated with the US in may exercises over the
years. GS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail, which is now in wide circulation, was written by a young
ensign on DDG81 USS Winston Churchill. It is from the 12 Nov Issue of
the Weekly Standard, which is a conservative weekly news magazine.
Dear Dad,
We are still at sea. The remainder of our port visits have all been
canceled.
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 the 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 a
half-century ago things were quite different. After Lutjens pulled away,
the Officer of the Deck, who had been planning to get out of the Navy
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.
{D185 Lutjens was built by Bath Iron works as DDG28 based on the Charles
Adams class; She has operated with the US in may exercises over the
years. GS)
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