I Remember Everyday

Submitted by FC1 Mitchell (United States), Jun 27, 2010 at 23:12

I too was onboard Conyngham. Stark was still on fire and listing badly when we arrived, We brought food and OBA's to the crew. They had fought to save the ship all night and were just worn out. We sent over small boats and helped finish the last of the fire fighting. No one who was there could ever forget what happened that day. I believe in my heart that it was an accident. The ship was doing BECCies and all the fire control equipment was turned off in case the load was lost while training. Only the small navigation RADAR was operational when the missles were launched. Stark, having high flat sides, gives a RADAR signature like an oil tanker. Iraq was our allies at that time, The account on the USS Stark facebook page makes it sound like the crew just let the missiles hit her. They were weapons blind. Condition 3 sailing. Training in the engine rooms is a necessary evolution, I remember to live each day as best as I can because of the 37 crew that didn't come home. I owe them that much. B

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