![\"USSStark6-jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/USSStark6-jpg-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nRiflemusket writes to remind us that it was 27 years ago today (May 17, 1987) that the USS Stark was attacked by a single Iraqi Aircraft two miles outside the exclusion zone with two Exocet anti-ship missiles. 29 men were killed in the explosion and the fire, eight died late and twenty one were wounded. Of the twenty nine killed, two were lost at sea. From Wiki<\/a>;<\/p>\n The first Exocet came in at just over ten feet above the sea and struck the port side hull near the bridge. It failed to detonate but rocket fuel ignited and caused a large fire that spread throughout the post office, the store room, and the combat operations center.<\/p>\n The second Exocet struck the port side as well and exploded, leaving a ten by fifteen foot hole in the frigate’s side. Electronics for the Stark’s Standard missile defense went out and Captain Brindel did not order his men to return fire. The AWACS plane was still in the area and just after witnessing the attack, it radioed a nearby Saudi airbase to send aircraft for an interception but the ground controllers did not have the authority to order a sortie so the Iraqi jet escaped unharmed. The USN rules of engagement applicable at the time allowed the Stark to defend herself after sufficiently warning the hostile aircraft.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Here are some photos from the memorial held in Jacksonville, FL this year from News4Jax<\/a> and a list of the casualties the Arlington National Cemetery website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"