DOD Offers First-responder Viewing Site for 9/11 Arraignment

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – First responders to the 9/11 attack sites will be able to view military commissions proceedings resulting from the attacks that begin May 5 from a site specifically set up for their use.

Some 400 to 600 first responders, officials say, will watch as five alleged 9/11 conspirators -- including the man who allegedly conceived and designed the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people -- face arraignment at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Wendy Kelly, chief of operations for the Office of Military Commissions, told American Forces Press Service that viewing sites for victims’ families and members of the media have been in place for previous proceedings, but first responders until now have not had access to closed-circuit television coverage of courtroom proceedings.

Kelly explained the sites set up for victims’ families are limited to those injured, and the immediate family members --including parents, spouses, children and siblings -- of those killed in the 9/11 and attacks and the Oct. 12, 2000, attack on the USS Cole in a Yemeni harbor that killed 17 U.S. sailors and injured 39 others.

“In recognition of the very unique situation that occurred in New York City with the first responders, we wanted to [make a site available] for police, fire, paramedics and other emergency workers who lost friends and co-workers,” she added.

The new site, at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., is the result of collaboration between the Defense Department and the New York City government, she said.

City officials are in charge of inviting eligible attendees for this weekend’s proceedings, she said.

Four sites are available for family members of 9/11 victims to view proceedings, Kelly said: at military installations near Boston, New York City, in northern New Jersey and in the Washington, D.C., area.

An additional site is available near Norfolk, Va., where survivors of the USS Cole bombing and families of the victims can view proceedings related to that attack. The Cole is home-ported there, she explained, and all the sites are placed where the greatest concentration of family members live.

Media representatives also can view proceedings from a separate site at Fort Meade, Md.

Kelly said locating the family and first-responder viewing sites on military bases allows DOD to use existing facilities and security measures, which saves cost, and also allows people using the sites to avoid media attention if they prefer to.

Media representatives can gather outside the gates of installations where viewing sites are set up, and those attending the proceedings can engage with them there, she added.

The Office of Military Commissions reaches out to people eligible to attend the proceedings in a number of ways, including through a restricted, password-protected area of the organization’s website, Kelly explained.

DOD administers military commissions through five organizations: the offices of the convening authority, chief prosecutor, chief defense counsel, trial judiciary and court of review.

Under the Military Commissions Act of 2009, those subject to trial include “an alien unprivileged enemy belligerent who has engaged in hostilities, or who has purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States, its coalition partners or was a part of al-Qaida.”

The May 5 arraignment involves charges and pleas in the case of the United States vs. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is alleged to have proposed the operational concept for the 9/11 attacks to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden as early as 1996. He is accused of obtaining approval and funding from bin Laden for the attacks, overseeing the entire operation and training the hijackers in all aspects of the operation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The overall charges allege that the five accused are responsible for the planning and execution of the attacks of Sept.11, 2001, in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa., resulting in the killing of 2,976 people.

They are charged with terrorism, hijacking aircraft, conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, and destruction of property in violation of the law of war.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to death. In accordance with the Military Commissions Act of 2009, each of the accused has been provided learned counsel with specialized knowledge and experience in death penalty cases.

The accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, officials emphasized.

ECSG Sailors, Marines Participate in Athens Project Handclasp

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Britney Epps, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

ATHENS, Greece (NNS) -- Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (ECSG) Sailors and Marines helped support the organization Doctors of the World, March 29, as part of the Navy's people-to-people program, "Project Handclasp."

Fifteen Sailors and Marines from aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and Lt. Eddy Logan, guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg's (CG 69) command chaplain, teamed up to help those in need and foster a positive community relationship.

The organization has been located in Athens for nearly 15 years and its original mission of supporting women and children quickly turned into helping less fortunate families, immigrants, refugees and local communities in need of food, shelter, and medical assistance.

"Greeks love Americans and this project creates a great image that can be seen as 'Simply amazing,'" said U.S. Embassy Cultural Affairs Assistant Dimitria Lucas.

Volunteers involved helped with sorting and packing pharmaceuticals. Social workers and the organization's director were thankful for the efforts of the participants, who packed more than 100 boxes and cleared space for future use.

"When out and off the ship, it feels good to be able to give back to a community other than my own," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sarah Coleman, an Enterprise Sailor.

Vicksburg, a part of the ECSG, donated 1,500 medical items ranging from disposable adhesive bandages to cold wraps and other supplies necessary to maintain this non-profit organization.

This was the first visit to Athens by Enterprise in more than 49 years, and the second visit by the U.S. Navy since Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) visited several years ago.

According to Enterprise volunteers, Sailors and Marines are always willing to help out, and in the end, it pays off and makes them want to do more whenever they are given the opportunity to do so.

"The pride and satisfaction you get from being able to make a difference is fantastic and rewarding," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steven Dufresne, an Enterprise Sailor.

Doctors of the World asked for help from the Navy and Sailors and Marines came together so the mission could be accomplished.

Commander, Naval Forces Korea Sailors Honor Lost ROK Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brianna K. Dandridge, Commander, Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs

SEOUL, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Sailors from Commander, Naval Forces Korea and Republic of Korea (ROK) navies honored Sailors lost on ROKN ship Cheonan (PCC-772) during a memorial and bell ringing ceremony April 20.

Cheonan sank March 26, 2010, in the Yellow Sea after being struck by a torpedo. The lives of 46 sailors onboard were lost along with Warrant Officer Han Jun-ho who died during subsequent rescue operations.

"We are here to honor and remember their service to the sea," said Rear Admiral Pete Gumataotao, Commander, Naval Forces Korea. "As we in the United States Navy will never forget the Sailors of USS Cole and USS Stark, we will never forget the Sailors of Cheonan."

The ceremony began with a brief invocation and speech by Lt. Chong-wook Kim, flag lieutenant to Gumataotao.

Kim served aboard Cheonan as weapons control officer in 2005 and expressed condolences for the 46 sailors, who went down with Cheonan.

"I was in deep grief before her shortly, tried to recollect the past time I had spent with her, and buried those beautiful memories within my heart forever," said Kim.

Taps were played and two bells were rung during the ceremony, to honor each of the servicemen who lost their lives while serving on Cheonan.

"Those who gave their self in service of their country will never be forgotten," said Gumataotao.

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the Commander for the United Nations Command; the Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command; and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea. CNFK also serves as liaison to the ROK Navy and the Combined Forces Commander staff in armistice and in wartime to Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet; based in Yokosuka, Japan.

Navy Honors Killed, Injured in USS Cole Attack

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2010 – Navy officials, current and former crew members and families of the fallen gathered today at Norfolk Naval Station, Va., to remember the 17 sailors killed and 39 others wounded in the al-Qaida attack on the USS Cole 10 years ago today.

Suicide bombers launched the surprise Oct. 12, 2000, attack on the Arleigh Burke-class, Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyer as it was anchored in Aden, Yemen, for a routine refueling stop. The attackers detonated an explosive-laden boat against the ship’s port side, tearing a 40-by-40-foot hole in the hull and sending seawater gushing into the engineering compartment.

The attack was the deadliest assault against a U.S. naval vessel since the Iraqis attacked the USS Stark on May 17, 1987.

Retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold, the Cole’s commander during the attack, recalled the impact of the blast.

“There was a thunderous explosion. You could feel all 505 feet and 8,400 tons of guided missile destroyer violently thrust up and to the right,” Lippold said during a recent radio interview. “Lights went out, and within a matter of seconds, I knew we’d been attacked.”

During today’s ceremonies, Navy Adm. J.C. Harvey Jr., commander of USS Fleet Command, saluted the Cole crewmembers’ quick response and valor as they fought to keep the ship afloat and tended to the wounded while defending against a feared follow-on attack.

Harvey said the attack underscores the importance of always being trained and prepared, and he praised the sense of vigilance that has been passed down to subsequent USS Cole crews.

After 14 months of upgrades and repairs following the attack, the USS Cole made an overseas deployment in November 2003. The ship later deployed to the Middle East in June 2006.

The USS Cole, which recently returned to its Norfolk homeport after a deployment that took it through the Gulf of Aden, shows no visible evidence of the deadly attack that occurred a decade ago. But below its decks are regular reminders, including a blackened U.S. flag that survived the attack and 17 gold stars that line the ship’s “Hall of Heroes” passageway.

As a ship’s bells rang 17 times during today’s ceremonies, the names of the fallen 17 sailors were read aloud:

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, 21, a hull maintenance technician from Mechanicsville, Va.;

* Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, 35, an electronics technician from Morrisville, Pa.;

*Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, 19, a mess management specialist from Woodleaf, N.C.;

* Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, 21, an information systems technician from Rice, Texas;

* Seaman Cherone Louis Gunn, 22, a signalman from Rex, Ga.;

* Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, 19, of Norfolk, Va.;

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Ian Nieto, 24, an engineman from Fond du Lac, Wis.;

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald Scott Owens, 24, an electronics warfare technician from Vero Beach, Fla.;

* Seaman Lakiba Nicole Palmer, 22, of San Diego, Calif.;

* Seaman Joshua Langdon Parlett, 19, an engine room fireman from Churchville, Md.;

* Seaman Patrick Howard Roy, 19, a fireman from Cornwall on Hudson, N.Y.;

* Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Shawn Rux, 30, an electronic warfare technician from Portland, N.D.;

* Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronchester Manangan Santiago, 22, a mess management specialist from Kingsville, Texas.;

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, 32, an operations specialist from Ringgold, Va.;

* Seaman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., 26, a fireman from Rockport, Texas;

* Ensign Andrew Triplett, 31, of Macon, Miss.; and

* Seaman Craig Bryan Wibberley, 19, of Williamsport, Md.