European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday. Mav 17, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 3 iraqi attack on  Stark 10 07 p.m4 u slash on Raiv 5lvtp Tim twi a i i hts i m Asci a re la y so oomph t 10 01 Fiji acc a / Ruad on  Fly ? a magi tool Juji mat n a 5 a clued of smoke of Oculi Frem the Rulp plod so re a Flor Llie alack in the Pinion Gulf a 17,1987. For the Crew of the Stark it was War by Norman Black Al Mili Tarj writer Washington tar Otic hour on he night of May 7 19r7. Inc Tiitu Avion was business As usual for inc Crew and offi cars Oft i guided missile Rigai. Slark after cinc told a jul As flying their Way. During that f 0 minut. He shark Itta Mcd  Gulf Waters on a routine patrol leisurely track ing the i Flitcr it had been old was assumed Friendly assumed  then War came. Two a oct i wills slammed Inlo inc guided mis Sile frigate 30 seconds apart. The first was a Dud these conf left 37 sailors dead almost Sank the ship and snapped once and for All Hie Public s somnambulist about inc Iran Iraq War. Americans had died in the persian Gulf. One year later the Slark sits dockside at Ingall shipbuilding in Pascagoula miss., receiving the Fin Ishing touches of an overhaul that will Cost an Coli match s100 million. The careers of two of the ship s officers including the skipper have come to a forced end. Iraq said its Tishler Pilot mistakenly fired on in Csurko _ ii Liing it was a Lanker carrying Oil for its enemy ran. Iraq has pledged 10 make restitution Al no Money has cd changed hands and probably won t Abr  than two dozen . Navy ships now operate in and around the Gulf escorting . Tankers As Well As 11 kuwaiti Oil tankers preregistered to Fly the Ameri can Flag. The Convoy work began despite congressional opposition spawned by the Stark incident. Perhaps the Stark s most important legacy however has been a change in Atli Iuda within the military the Navy has made the transition to a wartime footing in the Gulf with no end in sight. Skippers Are authorized to shoo first and ask questions later. . Ships now Are cleared to come to Thea id of Neutral merchant vessels in certain circumstances. Four different Battles have been fought with Irani an forces. And the administration is vowing to protect the right of Freedom of navigation indefinitely. There Are really two . Navies one for peace and one for War. The difference is mental  Vlahos. Director of the stale department s Center for the study of foreign affairs observed. In War one s senses Are honed for Battle in  where the threat of inadvertent attack is consid ered one s senses must be leashed that peacetime leasing Mihl have left Stark s Crew mentally  Vrahos said. Certainly other . Government officials have questioned the clarity of the ground rules for fighting Given to Navy ships before the Stark  Navy however has had no such qualms. Not ing that no ordnance was fired in defense of Stark or in retaliation for the attack a Hoard of inquiry concluded the rules of engagement that were in existence on May 17, 1987, were sufficient to enable Slark in prop Erly warn the iraqi aircraft. And if the warning was not heeded. 10 defend herself against hostile intent and imminent danger without absorbing inc first  ship s commander capt. Glenn r. Brigdet failed to provide combat oriented leadership allow ing Stark s anti air warfare readiness to disintegrate to the Point that his combat information Center learn was unable to defend the ship the Board  s tactical action officer it. Basil e. Mon chief failed to defend Stark As his duly  end Mon Eric ultimately accepted responsibility for the Stark s failure to defend itself and the were reprimanded rather than court Martiale. Brindl was allowed to retire at the lower rank of commander and Mon Eric was allowed to resign without a pension. Brindl now a real estate agent in Virginia Chach vs., refuses to discuss details of that night lie refers reporters to a letter he wrote to the Navy times Las november blaming the failure to defend inc ship on deficient radar and electronic senior equipment. A is. Sailor Lewins on inc railing of the missile strip Ken sin of the Surk the Reagus Comfort families of Stark victims Al a Mcmurl no in Mayport flu