Today Marks 15 Years Since the USS Cole Bombing

USS Cole (DDG 67) returns to sea after being repaired at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) in Pascagoula, Mississippi, April 19, 2002. U.S. Navy Photo

Today marks 15 years since terrorists bombed the USS Cole in Yemen, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39 others.

The attack occurred October 12, 2001 when a terrorist-driven small boat exploded at 11:18 a.m. on the port side of the destroyer as it was refueling in Yemen, ripping a 40×60-foot hole in the ship’s hull.

To commemorate the 15th, the U.S. Navy is offering tours of the ship at the Marine Hydraulics shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, where the ship has been since returning from a deployment this spring. A ceremony will also be held Monday at the USS Cole (DDG 67) Memorial at Naval Station Norfolk.

The U.S. Navy says that while the ship honors those who died while serving, it is no floating memorial or museum. Just 14 months after the bombing, the warship returned to service and has since been deployed more than a half-dozen times.

SEE ALSO: Determined Warriors of Today’s USS Cole Draw Inspiration from Service and Sacrifice of October 12, 2000

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