• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Stark Sailors Remembered

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100519-06
5/19/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Gary Granger Jr., Naval Public Affairs Support Element East Detachment Southeast

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Station Mayport hosted a memorial ceremony May 17 to honor 37 Sailors killed aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Stark (FFG 31) 23 years ago.

On May 17, 1987, while on patrol in the Persian Gulf, tragedy struck in the night when, without warning, two Iraqi missiles slammed into the side of Stark. Despite the severe damage inflicted, Stark's crew, aided by equipment and fire fighting teams from other units, saved the ship by fighting the fire through the night and into the next day.

Capt. John B. Mitchell, commanding officer of Mayport Naval Station during the 1987 attack served as guest speaker. Mitchell thanked the attendees for keeping the memories of the fallen Sailors alive at Mayport and in the Navy.

"Twenty-three years is a long time," he said. "When you think in terms of what has occurred, it puts that time in focus. Every child of the 37 fallen heroes has now reached adulthood. Changes can be measured in many ways, but evolution of children into adulthood is one of the most pleasant yardsticks."

"I think it goes to prove that the Navy is not just a job," said Naval Station Mayport Commanding Officer Capt. Aaron Bowman. "It's families, it's communities and we all get together to recognize who we are and how we do it. I had to turn away Sailors who wanted to volunteer for the memorial, they understand what it is all about."

Several of the ship's crew and family members of those who died were also present to tell their stories. One recount was a story of remembrance. Barbara Kiser, who lost her husband Senior Chief Stephen Kiser, attends the ceremony every year.

"After the bodies of the deceased we removed from the ship I was permitted to go in the actual compartment where the missile exploded before it was cleaned it up," said Kiser. "I went in there with a flash light and I reached in the ashes and pulled out my husband's bible, this bible survived a 12 million BTU (British Thermal Unit) fire. That was the hottest fire ever recorded on a U.S. Navy ship, and yet you can still read every single page," Kiser said.

A wreath-laying ceremony, 37 strikes of a bell and a 21-gun salute honored the Sailors who lost their lives.

Stark was decommissioned at Mayport in 1999. To preserve the tradition once the ship was retired, the Naval Order of the United States, and Naval Station Mayport partnered to preserve the observance of this tragic incident. Mayport's Memorial Park was established Aug. 1, 1987, with the dedication of the Stark monument.