Correction On USS STARK ATTACK

Submitted by Delpizzo (United States), May 5, 2005 at 13:46

One of those 37 crew members was a dear friend of mine. The ATTACK by an Iraqi pilot was just that, it was NOT a mistake! Sent by Saddam Hussein, he had hoped to stir up anger on our part by saying "it was a mistake, we were not the intended target, and so, please join us in our war against Iran". THAT was the intention. But we didn't bite.

The Stark's ability to defend itself was NOT ordered disabled - it was a fully loaded, ready, capable battleship on a regular tour of peacetime duty. It was attacked, unprovoked (and the pilot knew damn well that was a US warship) at around 9 p.m. outside the Gulf of Oman - most of the men were sleeping, and that's where most were killed. The Captain was scapegoated - the press and everyone else needed a scapegoat because Iraq was not the enemy then.

THAT is for the record. 37 innocent young lives, ages 18 - 38 were snuffed out on May 17, 1987. I will never forget it.

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