EW1 Kevin Shawn Rux was killed on October 12, 2000 when terrorist attack the USS COLE (DDG 67) while the ship was being refueled in Yemen’s Aden harbor.
Including EW1 Rux, there were a total of 17 American sailors killed and 39 injured in the deadliest attack against a United States naval vessel since the USS STARK (FFG 31) in 1987.  EW1 Kevin Rux also lost his best friend, EW2 Scott Owens in the attack.  Although he was buried at sea, he has a memorial marker at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton West Virginia, Plot: Sec 1 Site 1498.

EW1 Kevin Shawn Rux was a son of a Navy veteran. “He was career Navy.” His dad was career Navy, his uncle was career Navy. He loved the travel and used to smile with a twinkle in his eye when he’d tell about a certain port he’d been in.  Kevin joined the Navy after high school.

Kevin is survived by his wife, Olivia Rux, his mother, Saundra A. Flanagan, four brothers, Ken,  Tom, Tim and Mat. He was predeceased by a sister.