On May 17, 1987, the USS Stark (FFG 31) was struck by two Exocet anti-ship missiles fired from an Iraqi Mirage aircraft during the Iran-Iraq War, killing 37 Sailors and wounding 21

The first missile penetrated the port-side hull and failed to detonate, but left flaming rocket fuel in its path. The second entered at almost the same point, leaving a 4-by-6-foot gash and exploded in crew quarters.

After the damage was brought under control, the Stark sailed to Bahrain and was later repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Mississippi. Following subsequent tours in the Middle East area, Stark was decommissioned in 1999 and later scrapped in 2006.

Please help me honor them so that they are not forgotten

The names of those who lost their lives:

SN Doran H. Bolduc, Lacey, WA
BM1 Braddi O. Brown, Calera, AL
FC3 Jeffrey L. Calkins, Richfield Springs, NY
SN Mark R. Caouette, Fitchburg, MA
SN John A. Ciletta, Jr., Brigantine, NJ
SR Brian M. Clinefelter, San Bernardino, CA
OS3 Antonio A. Daniels, Greeleyville, SC
ET3 Christopher DeAngelis, Dumont, NJ
IC3 James S. Dunlap, Osceola Mills, PA
STGSN Steven T. Erwin, Troy, MI
RM2 Jerry Boyd Farr, Charleston, SC (current rating is IT)
QMCS Vernon T. Foster, Jacksonville, FL
RMSA Dexter D. Grissett, Macon, GA (current rating is IT)
FC3 William R. Hansen, Reading, MA
GMG3 Daniel Homicki, Elizabeth, NJ
OSSN Kenneth D. Janusik, Jr., Clearwater, FL
OS1 Steven E. Kendall, Honolulu, HI
EMCS Stephen Kiser, Elkhart, IN
SM1 Ronnie G. Lockett, Bessemer, AL
GMM1 Thomas J. MacMullen, Darby, PA
EW3 Charles T. Moller, Columbus, GA (current rating is CTT)
OS3 Lee Stephens, Pemberton, OH
SA Jeffrei L. Phelps, Locust Grove, VA
DS1 Randy E. Pierce, Choctaw, OK
GM3 James Plonsky, Van Nuys, CA
ET3 Kelly R. Quick, Linden, MI
SMSN Earl P. Ryals, Boca Raton, FL
FCCS Robert L. Shippee, Adams Center, NY
SMSA Jeffrey C. Sibley, Metairie, LA
BM2 James R. Stevens, Visalia, CA
ET3 Martin J. Supple, Jacksonville, FL
FC1 Gregory L. Tweady, Champaign, IL
SN Vincent L. Ulmer, Bay Minette, AL
EW3 Joseph P. Watson, Ferndale, MI (current rating is CTT)
ET3 Wayne R. Weaver, II, New Bethlehem, PA
OSSN Terrance Weldon, Coram, NY
IC2 Lloyd A. Wilson, Summerville, SC



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Just thought I would post this, I remember it well. One of the dead Sailors was a school and neighborhood friend. RIP Sailors

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More

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- On May 17, 1987, 37 sailors died and 21 were wounded when the USS Stark (FFG 31) was struck by two Iraqi missiles while on patrol in the Persian Gulf.

For Pete Christman, Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast production controller, the act of remembrance is much more personal.

Then a Radioman 2nd Class Petty Officer, Christman was with the ship on a six-month deployment during the Iran-Iraq War. As part of a seven-ship complement, he and his fellow sailors were charged with safeguarding the Persian Gulf’s merchant shipping with the Navy’s Middle East Force in Manama, Bahrain.

On the morning of the attack, the USS Stark was sailing through the Persian Gulf’s war-free zone during a two-day exercise. That evening, as the majority of the 222 sailors were asleep or relaxing, the worst happened just after 9 p.m.

The ship’s crew noted that an Iraqi Dassault Mirage F1 jet was passing much nearer to the ship than normal. Though the pilot was queried twice for identification, no response was received. Minutes later, the pilot released two Exocet air-to-ground missiles at what he believed to be an Iranian oil tanker.

The first missile struck the ship’s forward port side, just above the waterline. Though it did not detonate, it left a flaming path of rocket fuel and severed the firefighting water lines to the forward part of the ship. Only about 25 second later, the second missile followed an almost identical path and detonated, the fuel from the first missile feeding the flames.

Because of the quick action of the sailors onboard that fateful night, the ship did not sink and many lives were saved. With the assistance of firefighting crews from nearby sister ships, the crew battled the fire over the next 24 hours. After the flames were extinguished, USS Waddell (DDG 24) and USS Conynghamn (DDG 17) escorted USS Stark to the Manama port in Bahrain the next day.

“After the initial repairs needed to make the journey, I sailed back from Bahrain as one of the 100 crewmembers that volunteered to say onboard,” Christman said.

The ship was repaired at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula for 15 months.

“While the ship was here for repair, I met my future wife. Once the ship was repaired here at Ingalls, I sailed back to the homeport, finished my US Naval service, got married and came to work at SUPSHIP,” Christman said. I’ve been here at SUPSHIP for 31 years.”

After repairs, the USS Stark conducted missions for another eleven years before being decommissioned in 1999 and scrapped in 2006.

“Yes, they were heroes,” said President Ronald Reagan at a memorial held just days after the attack. In a further statement to the press, Reagan said “The hazards to our men and women in uniform in the defense of freedom can never be understated. The officers and crew of the U.S.S. Stark deserve our highest admiration and appreciation.”

Hear, hear. RIP, shipmates.

Fair winds and following seas.

Bringing this back up. RIP Sailors

Fair Winds and a Following Sea Shipmates.


I don't think any of the Crew was awarded Purple Hearts or Combat Action Ribbons for this.

I remember it well. Tragic loss of life. Yes, fair winds and following seas.

LCDR Ray Gajan, whom I served with earlier, had just reported as XO a week earlier. This incident effectively ended his career.

Fair winds and following seas.

RIP sailors.

Re LCDR Gajan...what could / should he have done differently?
Did this ship have CIWS that could have been activated to deal w the threat?

quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
I remember it well. Tragic loss of life. Yes, fair winds and following seas.

LCDR Ray Gajan, whom I served with earlier, had just reported as XO a week earlier. This incident effectively ended his career.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo Jones:
Re LCDR Gajan...what could / should he have done differently?
Did this ship have CIWS that could have been activated to deal w the threat?

Yes. It remained in standby mode since according to the CO at the time of the attack, none of four detection systems reported anything to indicate they were under attack prior to impact.

According to the board of inquiry at the time: ″If properly employed, the combat system installed in Stark had the inherent capability to enable Stark to comply with the Rules of Engagement and defend against hostile intent and imminent danger without requiring the ship to absorb the first hit.″

'Stark's ex-skipper says four of ship's systems didn't warn of attack'

There were a number of things Gajan could have pushed for but didn't. The most prominent in my mind:

-- watchstanders were in a 4 on 4 off "training" stress routine which is known to diminish proficiency and induce fatigue which causes accidents. Not the best choice in the area they were sailing in.

As an aside that practice was subsequently outlawed and in more recent times the grueling 5-hours on, 10-hours off watch schedules, known as “five and dimes,” have also bit the dust because that does not align with circadian rhythms and a 24-hour daily cycle.

-- men were not at their posts in CIC. The XO apparently hadn't witnessed the conduct of his senior combat information center officers to address their performance lapses including allowing enlisted personnel to absent themselves from watch stations without relief for overly long periods. The junior officer here in charge of CIC as well as the Captain were earmarked for specific responsibility for the ship's failures.

-- again, the choice or oversight to have some combat systems in standby as opposed to online in this hazardous location should have been found and remedied by the Exec.

He had no excuse about familiarity with this class ship as he had already served on one as the combat systems department head.

As an aside here's an interesting article about the attack and response by other ships in the area.
http://www.chaoticsynapticacti...he-uss-stark-ffg-31/
Mentions the enlisted operator of the CIC fire control panel was on an extended break without anyone else covering the panel during the attack.

I've never read anything detailing what Gajan was doing before and after the attack. He was allowed to serve until retirement as a LCDR. Always had the impression that a subsequent lack of confidence in his week aboard the Stark as XO is what killed his career.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bald1,

Never Forget

quote:

As an aside that practice was subsequently outlawed and in more recent times the grueling 5-hours on, 10-hours off watch schedules, known as “five and dimes,” have also bit the dust because that does not align with circadian rhythms and a 24-hour daily cycle.

Don't miss those, did a dual rotation of 12 on 12 off (Director Control) with a 5 on 10 off (CIC Weapons Engagement Controller) that rotated through it. Such fun, 1st day underway 7 hours off watch, 2nd day out 4 hours off watch, 3rd day out 3 hours off watch, wash rinse repeat...

Fair winds and following seas, lads.

I remember my unit in Germany being waken at 3am and put on alert status, drawing our weapons and loading our vehicles and waiting. God Bless the US Military !!!

quote:

As an aside here's an interesting article about the attack and response by other ships in the area.
http://www.chaoticsynapticacti...he-uss-stark-ffg-31/
Mentions the enlisted operator of the CIC fire control panel was on an extended break without anyone else covering the panel during the attack.

That was interesting; thanks for the link.

Rest In Peace, Shipmates.

To absent heroes....

EP3 Weaver was from my town. I remember this day well.

I remember the pics of the Stark sitting on top of some sort of rescue/transport ship for the purpose of being brought to the USA for repairs.

IIRC the transport ship submerged just enough to get under the Stark, then raise back up.

I was amazed to see that done.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
I remember the pics of the Stark sitting on top of some sort of rescue/transport ship for the purpose of being brought to the USA for repairs.

IIRC the transport ship submerged just enough to get under the Stark, then raise back up.

I was amazed to see that done.

If I'm not mistaken you're thinking of the USS COLE. USS STARK sailed to Bahrain after the attack and then managed to sail to Ingalls shipyard for repairs.