ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 202310Z OCT 00 ZYB MIN PSN 576949J40
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N09//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
INFO CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
 
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 268/00
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC//
 
SUBJ/COURAGE, RESOLVE AND THE U.S. NAVY BIRTHDAY//
 
RMKS/1.  THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS RECENTLY SENT TO ALL
MARINES, AS WELL AS TO USS COLE AND CNO, A SUPERB NAVY BIRTHDAY
MESSAGE.  I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH EACH OF YOU.
QUOTE:
   171405Z OCT 00
   FM CMC WASHINGTON DC/CMC/
   TO ALMAR
   CNO WASHINGTON DC
   USS COLE/CO/
   UNCLAS  /N01000/
   ALMAR 037/00
   MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/
   SUBJ/COURAGE, RESOLVE AND THE U.S. NAVY BIRTHDAY/
   RMKS/1.  ON 12 OCTOBER, A HORRENDOUS BLAST SERIOUSLY
   DAMAGED THE USS COLE, KILLING PRECIOUS AMERICAN SERVICEMEN AND
   WOMEN.  LATER THE CREW FACED ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES AS
   BULKHEADS GAVE WAY AND THE SHIP TOOK ON ADDITIONAL SEAWATER.
   AS EXPECTED, THE CREW OF THE USS COLE ROSE TO THE OCCASION AND
   DISPLAYED EXTRAORDINARY TENACITY IN SAVING THEIR SHIPMATES AND
   THEIR SHIP. THROUGHOUT THIS ORDEAL, THESE COURAGEOUS SAILORS
   HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE FORTITUDE AND CHARACTER THAT HAVE MADE
   THE U.S. NAVY THE BEST NAVAL FORCE IN THE WORLD.
   2.  THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE USS COLE WERE DOING WHAT NAVY
 SAILORS HAVE DONE FROM THE VERY EARLIEST DAYS OF OUR NATION -
   GOING IN HARM'S WAY IN SUPPORT OF UNITED STATES INTERESTS.
   WHILE UNDERSTANDING THE POSSIBLE RISKS, THEY RECOGNIZED THAT
   FORWARD ENGAGEMENT ENABLES WORLD STABILITY AND PEACE. THIS MISSION
   HAS BEEN A U.S. NAVY CORE STRENGTH SINCE ITS BIRTH.
   3.  THIS TERRIBLE INCIDENT PUTS A SOMBER NOTE ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE
   BEEN A JOYOUS OCCASION AS WE COMMEMORATE THE U.S. NAVY BIRTHDAY.
 FOR TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, NAVY SAILORS HAVE FOCUSED
   ON MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THE SUCCESS OF OUR NATION.  THE
   ACTIONS OF THE CREW OF THE USS COLE, OCCURRING WHILE THEY FACED
   THE HEARTBREAKING LOSS OF THEIR SHIPMATES, CERTAINLY LIVED UP TO
 THIS REPUTATION.
   4.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST
 SYMPATHY TO THE CREW, FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE USS COLE.  WE ARE
  HEARTENED BY THE STEADFAST RESOLVE OF THE CREW OF THE USS COLE
   AND ARE PROUD TO STAND FIRM ALONGSIDE OUR NAVY BRETHREN IN SERVICE
   TO OUR NATION.
   5.  SEMPER FIDELIS.  J.L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
   COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.
UNQUOTE.
 
2.  ADMIRAL WILLIAM J. FALLON, VCNO.//
 
BT