Sailors bow their heads during the invocation. More than 100 famlies, friends and former Stark crewmembers attended the memorial service. Photo by Paige Gnann

Shipmates Not Forgotten

By JO1 Christopher Tucker and Paige Gnann
Staff

It was silent at 10:45 a.m. Friday at Naval Station Mayport, except for the ringing of a bell and the sound of one man's voice.

As retired Capt. Peter Wynkoop read a name from a list of 37, the bell would toll in homage and remembrance. Every year NS Mayport pauses to honor and remember the 37 Sailors who lost their lives aboard USS Stark (FFG-31) on May 17, 1987.

The ship was on patrol in the Persian Gulf when it was struck by two Exocet missiles launched by an Iraqi aircraft. The ensuing fire caused damage control teams to battle fire and flooding for almost two days. Their efforts ultimately saved the ship.

The bell used during this year's ceremony was hanging in the Wardroom aboard USS Stark when the missile struck. Wynkoop is a former commanding officer of USS Stark from 1992-94. OS1 Joseph Sickels, a former USS Stark crewmember from 1994-99 rang the bell.

Approximately 100 families, friends, former Stark crewmembers and Sailors gathered at Naval Station Mayport's Memorial Park to pay their respects to their fallen shipmates. Also in attendance was State of Florida Veteran's Affairs Director retired Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Carroll.

Guest speakers at the event included Vice Adm. Patricia A. Tracey, Director, Navy Staff and Capt. Matthew E. Schellhorn, Naval Station Mayport's Commanding Officer and the officer in charge of HSL-32, Detachment Three, embarked on Stark at the time of the attack.

SH1 Christopher Jones of Housing, NS Mayport Commanding Officer, Capt. Matthew Schellhorn and Vice Adm. Patricia Tracey, Director, Navy Staff, carry the wreath to the Stark Memorial headstone. Schellhorn and Jones were shipmates aboard USS Stark during the missile attack. Photo by Paige Gnann

''I'm honored to be the guest speaker at this year's memorial service although I do so with a heavy heart,'' Schellhorn said during the service. ''While we gather here every year in this beautiful setting to honor our shipmates who lost their lives on board Stark on May 17, 1987, I am filled with pride, with Americanism, when I say that these men were more than just shipmates - they were my shipmates.''

After the event, Tracey said that she was struck by the heroism of Stark's crew.

''You can't help but think about the huge difference there was between Stark and [the Sept. 11 attack on] the Pentagon,'' she said. ''At the Pentagon, we could walk away, they had to stay and fight. That we're able to attract and retain that kind of people blows me away.''

''Their courage and stick-to-it is something that they learn from other Sailors,'' she continued. ''That's the reason it is so important to have a process like this [the memorial service] to remind each other how hard it can be and how much can be demanded.''

Stark was decommissioned in 1999, leaving no active crew to sustain the memorial. Since then, the Naval Order of the United States, North Florida Commandery, in cooperation with Naval Station Mayport, has sponsored the memorial service.

''We've all promised ourself that we will never forget these 37 brave men,'' Schellhorn said during the service. ''That we'll work a little harder to form personal bonds with those we live and serve with. And that we'll remember past tragedies as we set sail today, and in the future, as we fly the flag of freedom in the far corners of this earth.''