MOUNT VERNON — Where were you on 9/11?
Most people over 30 have little trouble answering that question.
But 11 months earlier, another terrorist attack took place, one that is not etched as deeply in the minds of most.
On Oct. 12, 2000, the USS Cole, a $1 billion Aegis guided missile destroyer stretching 505 feet and weighing 8,400 tons, was docked in Arden Harbor in Yemen.
As it took on some 250,000 gallons of fuel, an explosion rocked the ship, ripping a 40-foot hole near the water line. The al-Qaeda terrorist attack killed 17 sailors and injured 40 more.
On the 25th anniversary of that attack, one Mount Vernon resident remembers the event very well.
Marine Cpl. Andy Willer was serving on the USS Tara.
“We were leaving Phuket, Thailand, and had just pulled away from the pier when the captain came on the loudspeaker alerting us that the Cole had been attacked,” Willer said.
There was little doubt in the minds of the sailors and Marines on the USS Tara about the cause.
“We knew immediately that it was terrorism. I am not sure how they (the command staff) knew that, but that is what they told us,” Willer said.
A tense time
Willer said that the response to the attack was overwhelming.
“I cannot remember how many ships responded that day., but I do know the USS Anchorage and the USS Deluth were with us,” the veteran said.
“I can’t remember which aircraft carrier was there, but I saw the USS Lincoln about 15 miles out, escorted by several other destroyers. There was quite a use of force.”
U.S. forces established a security perimeter.
“We were right up there with the ship (USS Cole) while everyone else stayed back,” he said.
Despite the damage, the Cole needed to be moved so that investigative and rescue operations could continue.
“Originally, they pulled it out of the harbor with a tug boat to get it out of the blast area,” Willer said.
The Marine said he would never forget the first thing he saw when approaching the stricken ship: a massive hole in the side just above the water line.
However, seeing the huge tear in the Cole paled in comparison to what was to come as Willer’s ship served as a transport.
“We basically evacuated the entire crew onto our ship, including the 17 bodies,” the Marine said. “We would move them (the crew of the Cole) out, they would be flown (to safety), and then we would return.”
Willer said that everyone was multitasking with the destroyers and aircraft carriers closing in.
“The helicopters were loaded; we were just waiting for President Clinton to give the order to attack. It was pretty tense,” Willer said.
The entire assignment took three months.
“It was a pretty long time,” Willer said.
Exemplary performance
Willer received a commendation signed by Vice-Admiral of the United States Navy C.W. Moore for “exemplary performance while serving with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operation DETERMINED RESPONSE.”
However, Moore’s letter is not all he has. He has memories.
“I saw the worst of humanity,” Willer said, fighting back tears. “It was immediately shocking.
“You couldn’t see the entire hole until it was out of the water. It was terrifying.”
Although he battles horrific memories from his time in the Gulf, Willer remains grateful.
“I have a great support system, my parents and wife. I am also thankful for this community for the support they have shown,” he said.