Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Navy history: USS Stark attacked

On This Day in Navy and Marine Corps History: 1987 - USS Stark (FFG-31) is struck by two Iraqi Exocet Missiles in the Persian Gulf, killing 37 Sailors and wounding 21. (US navy 0/17/22) 

Among those who perished, and who were from the Gulf region, were : 

*Jeffrey Sibley, 21, Metairie, La. Played bass drum in high school. 'Jeff was a very big guy and he just dove into physical things,' band director Carl Hellmers said, adding the school retired the bass drum after Sibley left because no one was big enough to carry it. 

*Vincent Ulmer, 21, Bay Minette, Ala. Played high school basketball. Ulmer was in the Navy two years. His mother said he enjoyed the service. 

*Ronnie Lockett, 30, Bessemer, Ala. Married with 6-month-old daughter. He was 'always happy-go-lucky,' his mother, Eldora, said. 'It is a terrible thing but is an act of God and I have to believe in him,' she said of the tragedy. 

*Vernon Foster, 33, Tallahassee, Fla. Career Navy officer. Family described him as easygoing, intelligent and dedicated.

*Braddy Brown, 28, Calera, Ala. Leaves three sons. Brown was in the Navy 10 years.

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