Tragedy on USS Cole marks Taylor for life

Former Navy man has new mantra: seize the moment

By Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 8, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

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Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Charrod Taylor, who was aboard the USS Cole in 2000 during a deadly attack in Yemen, said, "Being here in Colorado gives me an opportunity to play football and do what I love doing."

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Charrod Taylor has learned to deal with what he calls "the situation," but it's something he never will forget.

Taylor, a 6-foot-2, 286-pound defensive lineman out of Georgia Southern, began training camp this week with the Colorado Crush, trying to secure a spot on the team's Arena Football League roster a little more than seven years after he survived a suicide bombing attack.

After graduation from Clarke Central High School in Athens, Ga., Taylor joined the Navy and was aboard the USS Cole on Oct. 12, 2000, when the guided- missile destroyer was attacked by terrorists during a fueling stop in the Port of Aden, Yemen.

Taylor was ready to go to lunch with his friend, Timothy Saunders, when he was reminded by an officer that he had duties that needed to be completed before being relieved. A small craft filled with explosives ran into an area near the galley, where members of the crew were eating lunch.

Taylor felt and heard the explosion that killed 17 sailors, including Saunders. He realizes he could have been killed, too, and it's still hard for him talk about it.

"It definitely taught me to appreciate what I have now and not take things for granted, to seize the moment at every chance you get because you never know when you are going to get it again," he said.

Taylor hasn't forgotten Saunders or the sailors who were killed and injured.

"Sometimes you have to get slapped in the face, but you can't help but think about things when you see it on TV as far as the war in Iraq," he said. "It's definitely not forgotten, but I try to make it so it doesn't affect my everyday life.

"I'm working through that phase now as we speak. I think I do a good job. Man, it took a while. I'm probably in the best shape now to deal with that situation. I credit that to God and my family."

Taylor played football for four years at Georgia Southern after his Navy discharge. He was in training camp with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants last summer but was released after suffering a stress fracture in a foot during a preseason game.

Crush coach Mike Dailey scouted the Giants camp and saw how good Taylor might look in a Crush uniform.

"He caught my eye," Dailey said. "The maturity level for him is higher. Guys that go through the military usually have a tremendous sense of discipline. They understand discipline, they understand time management, and all those things help a football player."

Taylor welcomes the chance to continue playing football.

"Being here in Colorado gives me an opportunity to play football and do what I love doing," he said.

Although past events have given him a new perspective, Taylor said for now, he is dedicated to football.

"It's still important because, at the end of the day, it's a job," Taylor said. "While I was in the military, it was a job. Now that I'm out of the military, this is my job. I try to bring the same kind of work ethic.

"Being in the military has opened up a lot of experiences and I've seen a lot more than maybe some guys have seen. The military was part of my life and now I'm trying to move into a different aspect."

bentonj@RockyMountainNews.com

"I know a lot of people didn't think (the Giants) had a chance to win against New England, but being in training camp, you see a different aspect. The players are a hardworking group of guys. I guess it was just a matter of time before they really showed how good they really are."

Charrod Taylor, Crush defensive lineman, who was in training camp with the New York Giants, on watching his former team win the Super Bowl.

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