I knew within seconds that the ship under my command had been attacked. I grabbed a 9mm pistol and two clips of ammunition and dashed toward the blast area ready to face my destiny. In a deafening explosion, the USS Cole was thrust up and to the right. Power failed in the forward part of the ship, plunging most of the crew into darkness as equipment failed or shut down from the force of the blast. For a few seconds there was silence, followed by the screams of the wounded.

Source: Wall Street Journal October 11, 2020 20:03 UTC