We remember the 37 American Navy crewmen who were killed fourteen years ago in the Persian Gulf when their frigate, the USS Stark, was hit by Iraqi missiles on May 17, 1987. The mission of the USS Stark was to maintain peace in the hostile environment of the gulf: to help keep essential sea lanes open, to show the American flag in an area of vital interest, and to provide U.S. Navy protection to those entitled to it. And for the cause of peace in a troubled world these 37 brave Americans lost their lives.

USS Stark Victims Arrive in U.S.

Their journey began in towns such as New Bethlehem and Charleston and Choctaw and took them from a home port in Florida to the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987; it neared an end in a bare metal and concrete hangar in Delaware. Nine days after their frigate was pierced by two Iraqi missiles, 36 of the men who died on the USS Stark were returned to American soil. The remains of 35 were honored in a simple ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, where most stayed another day before being flown home for burial. [Read More]

—Barbara Vobejda
1987 The Washington Post
Reprinted with Permission

We Remember Them... 37 Who Died

Doran Bolduc - Lacy, Wash.
Bradley Brown - Calera, Ala.
Jeffrey Calkins - Rickfield Springs, N.Y.
Mark M. Caouette - Fitchburg, Mass.
John Ciletta* - Brigantine, N.J.
Bryan Clinefelter - San Bernadino, Calif.
Antonio Daniels - Greenville, S.C.
Christopher DeAngelis* - Dumont, N.J.
James Dunlap - Osceola Mills, Pa.
Steven Erwin* - Troy, Mich.
Jerry Farr - Charleston, S.C.
Vernon Foster - Jacksonville, Fla.
Dexter Grissett - Macon, Ga.
William Hansen - Reading, Mass.
Daniel Homicki - Elizabeth, N.J.
Kenneth Janusik - Clearwater, Fla.
Steven Kendall - Honolulu, Hawaii
Stephen Kiser - Elkhart, Ind.
Ronnie Lockett - Bessemer, Ala.
Thomas MacMullen - Darby, Pa.
Charles Moller - Columbus, Ga.
Jeffrey Phelps - Locust Grove, Va.
Randy Pierce - Choctaw, Okla.
James Plonsky - Van Nuys, Calif.
Kelly Quick - Linden, Mich.
Earl Ryals* - Boca Raton, Fla.
Robert Shippee - Adams Center, N.Y.
Jeffrey Sibley - Metairie, La.
Lee Stephens - Pemberton, Ohio
James Stevens - Visalia, Calif.
Martin Supple - Jacksonville, Fla.
Gregory Tweady - Champaign, Ill.
Joseph Watson - Ferndale, Mich.
Wayne Weaver - New Bethlehem, Pa.
Terrance Weldon - Coram, N.Y.
Lloyd Wilson - Summerville, S.C.
Vincent Ulmer - Bay Minette, Ala.

*Buried in Arlington National Cemetery

Source: Military District of Washington

Click image to enlarge.

Comment: USS Stark full view.

Comment: USS Stark rear view.

Comment: During a 1987 deployment, STARK was struck by two missiles fired by Iraqi aircraft. The fires that resulted claimed 37 lives, and only the heroic action of the crew saved the ship. Today the only remaining sign of this tragic event is the memorial engraving mounted in the midships' passageway, which lists the names of the lost shipmates.