Joseph Huffman

        GREEN TOWNSHIP — David Huffman took the day off from work Friday and waited by the phone. On his TV, a flag-draped casket was shown being carried from a plane.

        “That could be my son right there,” said Mr. Huffman, his eyes turning red, his voice breaking.

        But his son is safe.

        Mr. Huffman and his wife heard from the Navy Thursday night that their son, Joseph Huffman, a seaman, was not among the dead, missing or injured aboard the USS Cole, the destroyer that was bombed as the ship was fueling in Yemen. At least seven aboard were killed; another 10 are missing and presumed by the Navy to be dead.

USS COLE BOMBING

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        Joseph did try calling his father from the Cole Friday morning, but he called his father's workplace.

        As his father waited at home by the phone.

        A co-worker talked to Jo seph and told him his father was at home. Joseph said he was pressed for time, that he'd try to call later.

        Mr. Huffman knows now his son is safe, but he wanted to hear his son say those words.

        “No matter what anybody tells you, you can't believe it until you hear it yourself,” Mr. Huffman said. “Until I hear his voice personally, myself, I'll know he hasn't come in harm's way. But for those who didn't get any good news phone calls, our hearts go out to them. I wish I could console them. We're all in this together.”

        Mr. Huffman hasn't spoken to Joseph since late August, when Joseph flew to Sicily to join the Cole.

David and Kathy Huffman heard Thursday their son Joseph was safe. Friday, son Michael, stationed on another ship, was on his way to Yemen to help. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Another son, Michael Huffman, Joseph's twin brother, is serving aboard the USS George Washington.

        “I'm a proud Navy father,” said Mr. Huffman as he stood in the family's computer room, where photos of his sons hung on the walls.

        Michael, he said, was on his way to the Middle East. An admiral had asked crew members aboard the George Washington whether they would volunteer to help out on the Cole. Michael said yes.

        As Mr. Huffman spoke to a visitor in his home, the phone rang. It was Michael calling from the George Washington.

        “Hey, what's happening?” said an excited Mr. Huffman. “I know it, I know it. It's going great. Joe called, but he called for me at the shop ... I know ... You damn straight, it's them prayers, buddy ... Do you really think that's a good idea? If you think it's a good idea, I'm with you, buddy. But I don't know about both of you in the same spot ... I know ... I miss you and I love you, too, son.”

        Mr. Huffman handed the phone to Michael's brother, Dylan, 7.

        “It's difficult thinking about them both being there,” Mr. Huffman said. “But he wants to go and help. But those guys are just sit ting there. They're fair game.”

        He said it is hard to imagine the anxiety aboard the Cole. Sitting in port in Yemen. The crew — his son — helping to clean up. Perhaps searching for the bodies of the missing.

        Joseph has to have known some of those killed, he said. He imagined them sitting in port and waiting.

        Meanwhile, Mr. Huffman waits by his phone.

        “I'll feel better once I hear his voice,” he said. “I need to hear it.”
       
       

'I miss you and I love you, too, son'
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