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Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing Content - Lack of focus on the crew's heroics
Review: A post-attack crewmember from 1993-1997, I served as CS-3 (Ordnance) Division Leading Petty Officer and Weapons Control Officer. The report of investigation headed by Admiral Sharp was much more interesting reading, and seems to have been largely overlooked by the authors, as well as any interviews with surviving crewmembers other than the officers.It overlooked the heroic damage control efforts of the crew under the most adverse of circumstances. With fires raging near the missile magazine, 20% of the crew dead in the initial moments, lack of firemain pressure and communications, and one-third of the repair lockers out of commission, the crewmembers literally almost sank their ship to save it. It was largely a whitewash of the entire affair, seemingly written for the purpose of justifying Captain Brindell's refusal to accept responsibility for the attack and hanging his junior officers out to dry. It was a coldly analytical look at an overall unrelated sequence of events that couldn't have been pieced together in any other circumstances than a tragic aftermath. Necessary reading for any USS STARK (FFG-31) crewmember prior or subsequent to May 17, 1987...maybe we can get together and tell the true story of that dreadful night.
Rating:
Summary: Another fig sailor's opinion.
Review: Another fig sailor's opinion., August 2, 2004
Reviewer: 920 "FC1 Bill Adams" - See all my reviews
I'm ordering the book, though I respect the negative opinions of those who were there, especially Jeff Pearson, whom if memory serves I served with at Damneck after.
I served aboard a fig 7 identical to Starke as an FC1, I was a qualified WCO, and taught WCO school after the Starke attack. I patrolled the same water on my fig, and watched the same aircraft follow it's targeting P-3 down the gulf many days.
No-one will ever convince me it was an accident. The missiles were fired in exactly the manner I would fire at an FFG-7 class ship. Right down the cutouts, where both the 76MM and CIWS were least effective. I don't think that was by accident.
Wish someone who was there would write a book.
Rating:
Summary: Crewman's perspective
Review: As a survivor of this unfortunate incident, I was angered that key facts about that night were missed. The author's did a fair job of restating facts that existed in official documents, but overlooked the testimony of the crew. I was glad to see several others write comments about this book, many whose names I recognize. I hope that future published works about the USS Stark will cover the story from the side of her proud crew, 37 of whom paid the highest price possible for our freedom.
Rating:
Summary: Crewman's perspective
Review: As a survivor of this unfortunate incident, I was angered that key facts about that night were missed. The author's did a fair job of restating facts that existed in official documents, but overlooked the testimony of the crew. I was glad to see several others write comments about this book, many whose names I recognize. I hope that future published works about the USS Stark will cover the story from the side of her proud crew, 37 of whom paid the highest price possible for our freedom.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good book from an Investigation point of view
Review: As a USS Stark FFG31 Plank Owner, I found the book informative, but, somewhat biased toward the Investigators point of view. I believe that the book would have been much better had the Authors interviewed the Crew members since apparently there was a little too much reliance on the "Official documents." Hopefully, some enterprising Author will do this and publish another book from the Crew Members perspective.
Rating: 
Summary: Very important historical account
Review: Despite my first review, this is a very important book and the only book about the USS Stark.
Rating:
Summary: Technically accurate?
Review: I was stationed on an Aegis cruiser, so I'm certainly not an expert on FFG-7 class ships, but as a Mk-86 FC, I was trained on the "STIR" (SPQ-60) used on the FFG-7 class. The technical aspects of the book seem accurate to me. The failure of the TAO to turn the ship so the Iraqi plane could be illuminated by the "STIR" seems to be a serious indictment of his competence. (Illuminating the Iraqi plane would have immediately let it known it was targeting a military ship. Also, it would have scared the hell out of the pilot.) This failure to turn also meant that the missiles ended up coming in right along the "cutouts" for the CIWS mount. While the book concluded that wasn't a factor for the failure of the CIWS to shoot them down, I figure it probably was. From shooting 5" gun mounts, I know you just don't flirt with cutouts. You keep your target well within your weapon's coverage area, away from those cutouts, or you risk the weapon not working. Overall, the book is a stinging indictment of the ship's TAO, for incompentance, and it's captain, for both incompetence and being a little weasel. As meager as the ship's defences were, they could have worked, if only they'd been used.
Rating:
Summary: Technically accurate?
Review: I was stationed on an Aegis cruiser, so I'm certainly not an expert on FFG-7 class ships, but as a Mk-86 FC, I was trained on the "STIR" (SPQ-60) used on the FFG-7 class. The technical aspects of the book seem accurate to me. The failure of the TAO to turn the ship so the Iraqi plane could be illuminated by the "STIR" seems to be a serious indictment of his competence. (Illuminating the Iraqi plane would have immediately let it known it was targeting a military ship. Also, it would have scared the hell out of the pilot.) This failure to turn also meant that the missiles ended up coming in right along the "cutouts" for the CIWS mount. While the book concluded that wasn't a factor for the failure of the CIWS to shoot them down, I figure it probably was. From shooting 5" gun mounts, I know you just don't flirt with cutouts. You keep your target well within your weapon's coverage area, away from those cutouts, or you risk the weapon not working. Overall, the book is a stinging indictment of the ship's TAO, for incompentance, and it's captain, for both incompetence and being a little weasel. As meager as the ship's defences were, they could have worked, if only they'd been used.
Rating:
Summary: Good Reading
Review: There is some confusion with Lt(jg) Will Hanson and FC3 William R Hansen in the index. Hansen, William R is listed in the index on several pages, however the reference should actually be for Lt(jg) Will Hanson. The only page my brother (FC3 William R. Hansen) should be mentioned is on page 126 in the list of KIA. Seems like the authors were not aware of the similar names. Also, the cover picture is reversed showing a STBD list when it was actually to port (reversed negative see photo pg 21). Makes me wonder what other errors are present. Otherwise, as a family member of a lost shipmate the book gave me some insight as to what was happening while we were waiting for news about my brother. I never doubted the bravery of her crew, and this book reinforced it. Overall, I'm glad I got the chance to read it and welcome contact from any past crew members.
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