German Navy on Sept.11

[GutshotApe]

Got this email yesterday from an old friend who is still in the Navy:

Hello all,
This morning I witnessed another classy and emotional presentation by
the German Navy. The FGS NIEDERSACHSEN (F208) who is part of our NATO battle
group called us this morning at 8am and asked if they could pass close to
Starboard. What we didn't know was that they had their whole crew topside in
dress blues rendering honors to the United States for Sept 11th. From their
main mast they flew our flag and they held their covers over their hearts.
Needless to say, the whole crew was choked up and a few tears formed in
our eyes. Both ships stayed next to eachother in silence for about 5
minutes.
These are the days that remind me why I joined the Navy.

A US Sailor at sea in the Atlantic...........

[Hoosier Daddy]

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Thank your friend for passing it on.

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[letsfish]

Now that is class. And a whole lot of heart.ditto clappy hands.

[Pilar]

GSA .. that sure choked me up. Can you imagine how the crew of the ship that US sailor was on felt at such an unabashed showing of respect and affection for our Navy and our nation? At any port they visit the US navy crew will go out of thier way to find and entertain members of the German navy. This is the sort of thing that binds the services of NATO nations together.

It is a major ordeal to get the crew into dress blues, interrupt operations of the ship and then maneuver into position to pay such a tribute. But then it was nothing to the German crew compared to the respect and admiration they feel for our naval forces and our men and women at arms in general.

The German Navy have a history of this type of thing dating back to the days of high drama with the Soviets, the cold war and Ronald Reagan and they are our allies in Nato, at sea and in every other sense of the word. We were the gatekeepers in Europe during the cold war and gave the free European countries the protection they needed from the Soviet Union. This legacy goes back to the 2nd world war of the 20th century. There are many fields in France and Italy littered with the fallen US servicemen of WWII and the Normandy campaign. They will never forget this even if the politicians there have.

When I served from 1977 to 1985 the crew of my boat saw many such displays of affection on a smaller scale from European forces, including Germany, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Canada, Nova Scotia and especially England. A US boat sailor on liberty had a very hard time spending any of his money in Portsmouth, England or Holy Loch, Scotland.

We were all brothers in arms.

[ 09-24-2003, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[Hawg Caller]

:grin: Almost makes me teary eyed.good post

[foxer]

All I can say is "whoa". That tugs on the heart

[Zodman]

QUITE A PHOTO, THANKS FOR SHARING.

[larryb]

thank you so much

God bless you all and keep you all safe shipmates. [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]