German Navy Story
From about.com's Urban Legends site regarding this e-mail:
Comments: True! This touching display of camaraderie and solidarity between
U.S. and German naval personnel took place on September 14, 2001, three days
after the terrorist attacks of September 11. The USS Winston S. Churchill and
GFS Lütjens had been conducting joint training exercises off the coast of
England during which members of both crews had become acquainted.
The incident was documented in an official U.S. Navy photo credited to Lt.
Mike Elliot.
Source:
German Navy Warship Salutes USS Winston S. Churchill
U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet home page
Below is an e-mail from a young ensign aboard the USS Winston Churchill to
his parents. (Churchill is an Arleigh Burke-class AEGIS guided-missile
destroyer, commissioned March 10, 2001, and is the only active U.S. Navy
warship named after a foreign national.)
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 a 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 half-century ago things were quite different."
"After Lutjens pulled away, the Officer of the Deck, who had been planning
to get out 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." Love you guys."
And here's a picture of what that scene looked like:
http://www.wnd.com/images2/germanship.jpg
