Former USS Cole commander speaks about bin Laden from Carson home
By Lenita Powers, Reno Gazette-Journal
Kirk Lippold, the former commander of the USS Cole and a Carson City resident, said he is “absolutely thrilled” that almost 11 years after the terrorist attack on his ship in which 17 crewmen died, Osama bin Laden finally has been killed.
“I think it was a definite strike for freedom and demonstrates that the United States will be resolute and unwavering in our pursuit of those who seek to do our nation harm and kill our citizens,” Lippold said Monday.
The details of that attack, organized and directed by Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida members, are etched in Lippold’s memory.
“We had pulled into Aden, Yemen, that morning at 11:18 on Oct. 12, 2000, for a refueling stop,” he said.
“We had been there about 45 minutes when there was a thunderous explosion. We could feel the ship being almost lifted out of the water when lights went out and the ship began to sink,” he said.