New Great Lakes Student Barracks Honors Sailors of USS Cole
Story Number: NNS020315-05
Release Date: 3/15/2002 11:04:00 AM
By Judy R. Lazarus, Great Lakes Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- A new $27 million barracks is now home to 660 students at Service School Command, Great Lakes. Offering the best in quality-of-life features, the barracks also pays tribute to the spirit of the American Sailor.
Dedicated to the Sailors of USS Cole (DDG 67), the barracks is named "Determined Warrior," after Cole's call sign. The guided-missile destroyer was ripped by an explosion in Aden, Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000, killing 17 Sailors, many of who trained at Great Lakes. Five former members of the ship's crew, who are now stationed at Great Lakes, were honored during a dedication ceremony March 8.
"When the young Sailors come through here they will appreciate what they have, that somebody else put their life on the line for them," said Torpedoman's Mate 1st Class David Rueckert, who was in the galley on Cole when the blast occurred.
"When they walk through the front doors and see Determined Warrior on the front, it should be a constant reminder to why they're here, the reason they're doing their job and the reason they're being trained," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Paris Henry, Ruckert's shipmate on Cole. "I wish my friends were here to see it -- the guys that passed away," he added. "They're probably seeing it anyway, upstairs."
The guests at the dedication ceremony lauded the five Cole crew members for their service.
"Determined Warrior is the latest in a line of facilities and initiatives that will show our Sailors that we are committed to them, that we place great emphasis on their quality of service," said Capt. Jerry Hart, commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes, speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"This barracks also has a training value. Facilities like this create an environment that is conducive to the learning process. It enhances and enables the training programs here, and that's what Great Lakes is all about," he said.
Hart added that the barracks represents more than just brick and mortar.
"It represents a spirit, it represents bravery, and it represents honor, courage and commitment. Specifically, it represents the heroism, selfless sacrifice and the fighting spirit of the men and women of the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole," he said.
The new six-story 158,500 square-foot barracks is a design-build project between Walsh Construction Company of Illinois and architect VOA Associates, and is overseen by the Great Lakes resident officer in charge of construction.
Each floor, from the second through the sixth, has 33 residential units. Each unit contains two sleeping rooms, with two Sailors in each room, and a service area containing a bathroom and kitchenette.
The building's first floor includes a learning center, an exercise facility, a recreation room, administrative offices, a mailroom and housekeeping and maintenance areas.
Students attending Electricians Mate and Interior Communications "A" School will use the barracks. Both schools are typically attended by Sailors following boot camp.
