Most of you probably remember what happened to the USS Cole in October of 2000. I have met her commander, CDR Kirk Lippold, personally and heard a first hand account of what happened that day. I also know another officer who was onboard that fateful day.
Thus, it was with interest that I read the Reuters article about CDR Lippold. He was selected for the rank of Captain in 2002, but has not been "frocked." Recently, the SecNav has taken his name off of the promotion list and stated that he will not be promoted. What was not in the article was the fact that the SecNav was ordered to remove his name by Senator John Warner, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Both the SecNav and CNO want this man promoted, but one senator is stopping that from happening.
I for one am very sad to see this happen. The JAG investigation found that there was nothing he or his crew could have done to prevent the attack. The threat condition was Alpah plus and his crew was at ThreatCon Bravo (that is a higher level of security). This man saved his ship and his crew, and gets rewarded by being removed from the promotion list.
I would like to ask you all for help. Please contact Senator Warner at the link below and ask him to reconsider. CDR Lippold will be up for promotion again next year. Let's not punish this man another year for the actions of some cowardly terrorists.
KP
http://www.senate.gov/~warner/contact/offices.htm
Thus, it was with interest that I read the Reuters article about CDR Lippold. He was selected for the rank of Captain in 2002, but has not been "frocked." Recently, the SecNav has taken his name off of the promotion list and stated that he will not be promoted. What was not in the article was the fact that the SecNav was ordered to remove his name by Senator John Warner, head of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Both the SecNav and CNO want this man promoted, but one senator is stopping that from happening.
I for one am very sad to see this happen. The JAG investigation found that there was nothing he or his crew could have done to prevent the attack. The threat condition was Alpah plus and his crew was at ThreatCon Bravo (that is a higher level of security). This man saved his ship and his crew, and gets rewarded by being removed from the promotion list.
I would like to ask you all for help. Please contact Senator Warner at the link below and ask him to reconsider. CDR Lippold will be up for promotion again next year. Let's not punish this man another year for the actions of some cowardly terrorists.
KP
http://www.senate.gov/~warner/contact/offices.htm
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