USS Stark

Brown, Bradley Otis
Navy bosun’s mate

Bradley Otis Brown, age 28, from Calera, Alabama, Shelby county.

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Clinefelter, Bryan Michael
Navy seaman recruit

Bryan Michael Clinefelter, age 19, from Barstow, California, San Bernardino county.

Parents: Gary Clinefelter

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Plonsky, James
Navy Gunner’s mate

James Plonsky, age 22, from Van Nuys, California, Los Angeles county.

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Stevens, James Russell
Navy torpedoman

James Russell Stevens, age 27, from Visalia, California, Tulare county.

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Ryals, Earl Patton
Navy signalman

Earl Patton Ryals, age 25, from Boca Raton, Florida, Palm Beach county.

Spouse: Susan

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Janusik, Kenneth Dale Jr.
Navy Operations specialist

Kenneth Dale Jr. Janusik, age 19, from Clearwater, Florida, Pinellas county.

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Foster, Vernon
Navy senior chief petty officer

Vernon Foster, age 33, from Jacksonville, Florida, Duval county.

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Ulmer, Vincent Lenard
Navy Seaman

Vincent Lenard Ulmer, age 21, from Bay Minette, Alabama, Baldwin county.

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Grissette, Dexter Dwayne
Navy Radioman-seaman’s apprentice

Dexter Dwayne Grissette, age 19, from Macon, Georgia, Bibb county.

Parents: Nathan
Spouse: Janice Davis

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Kendall, Steven Edward
Navy operations specialist

Steven Edward Kendall, age 30, from Hawaii, Honolulu county.

Parents: Shirley

Service era: Cold War

Date of death: Sunday, May 17, 1987
Death details: Died aboard the USS Stark. While in the Persian Gulf on May 17, 1987, she was struck by two Iraqi Exocet missiles, killing 37 sailors and wounding 21. Brought under control, the frigate sailed to Bahrain and was successfully repaired at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Following repairs and subsequent tours in the Atlantic and Middle East, Stark was decommissioned on May 7, 1999, and was scrapped in 2006.

Source: Associated Press, National Museum of the U.S. Navy

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