Remains of 4 Americans killed by pirates coming home
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By: Sara A. Carter 02/22/11 8:05 PM
National security correspondent
In this June 11, 2005 file photo provided by Joe Grande, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle are seen on a yacht in Bodega Bay, Calif. The U.S. military says Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 that pirates killed four American hostages they were holding on the yacht Quest off Somalia's coast. The victims are the Quest's owners, Scott and Jean Adam of California, and Macay and Riggle, both of Seattle.
The remains of the four Americans killed at the hands of Somali pirates began their final journey home Tuesday evening on the USS Enterprise from the Gulf of Aden, military officials said. Also aboard the massive aircraft carrier were the pirates who military officials say took their lives.
Jean and Scott Adam, from California, were killed aboard their 58-foot sailboat, the Quest, off the coast of Somalia, along with a Seattle couple, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, early Tuesday morning. They were kidnapped Friday night and for three days U.S. Special Forces were watching the Quest from a trailing destroyer and planning their rescue, military officials confirmed.
"There is an ongoing investigation into the hijacking," said Navy Ensign Brynn Olson, spokeswoman for U.S. Central Command.
Olson said piracy in the region is a "top priority for NATO and there has been an increased presence" of both U.S. and allied ships in the region attempting to stop the criminal pirates.
She added, however, that the waterway is difficult to monitor, saying it is roughly "the distance from Florida to Maine" and a thoroughfare for vessels from around the world, linking the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea.
A military official told The Examiner that the Special Operations Forces soldiers who attempted to rescue the American hostages early Tuesday morning were not involved in their deaths.
U.S. Central Command released a statement early Tuesday saying the four hostages had been shot and seriously wounded by their captors before the vessel was boarded.
Despite attempts to provide lifesaving care, the hostages ultimately died of their wounds, the statement said.
"We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest," said Gen. James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command commander.
Two pirates were killed and 13 pirates were captured aboard the couple's yacht early Tuesday morning when the Special Forces team boarded the ship.
According to reports, the couple started their journey as part of an international yacht race but left the race early to deliver Bibles to remote regions of the world.
Organizers of the international yacht race called the Blue Water Rally said the California couple's yacht had been taking part in the race but they left Feb. 15 to chart an independent course from India to Oman, according to their Web site.
"We feel desperately sorry for our four friends onboard and our thoughts are with them and their friends and family. All the yachts still on the rally are fine and well," the Blue Water Web site states.
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Comments (0) Share Print
By: Sara A. Carter 02/22/11 8:05 PM
National security correspondent
In this June 11, 2005 file photo provided by Joe Grande, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle are seen on a yacht in Bodega Bay, Calif. The U.S. military says Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 that pirates killed four American hostages they were holding on the yacht Quest off Somalia's coast. The victims are the Quest's owners, Scott and Jean Adam of California, and Macay and Riggle, both of Seattle.
The remains of the four Americans killed at the hands of Somali pirates began their final journey home Tuesday evening on the USS Enterprise from the Gulf of Aden, military officials said. Also aboard the massive aircraft carrier were the pirates who military officials say took their lives.
Jean and Scott Adam, from California, were killed aboard their 58-foot sailboat, the Quest, off the coast of Somalia, along with a Seattle couple, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, early Tuesday morning. They were kidnapped Friday night and for three days U.S. Special Forces were watching the Quest from a trailing destroyer and planning their rescue, military officials confirmed.
"There is an ongoing investigation into the hijacking," said Navy Ensign Brynn Olson, spokeswoman for U.S. Central Command.
Olson said piracy in the region is a "top priority for NATO and there has been an increased presence" of both U.S. and allied ships in the region attempting to stop the criminal pirates.
She added, however, that the waterway is difficult to monitor, saying it is roughly "the distance from Florida to Maine" and a thoroughfare for vessels from around the world, linking the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea.
A military official told The Examiner that the Special Operations Forces soldiers who attempted to rescue the American hostages early Tuesday morning were not involved in their deaths.
U.S. Central Command released a statement early Tuesday saying the four hostages had been shot and seriously wounded by their captors before the vessel was boarded.
Despite attempts to provide lifesaving care, the hostages ultimately died of their wounds, the statement said.
"We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost aboard the Quest," said Gen. James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command commander.
Two pirates were killed and 13 pirates were captured aboard the couple's yacht early Tuesday morning when the Special Forces team boarded the ship.
According to reports, the couple started their journey as part of an international yacht race but left the race early to deliver Bibles to remote regions of the world.
Organizers of the international yacht race called the Blue Water Rally said the California couple's yacht had been taking part in the race but they left Feb. 15 to chart an independent course from India to Oman, according to their Web site.
"We feel desperately sorry for our four friends onboard and our thoughts are with them and their friends and family. All the yachts still on the rally are fine and well," the Blue Water Web site states.