On the Stark, ‘All Hell Broke Loose’ : Sailors ‘Fell Through Big Hole’ Into Sea When Exocet Struck

“All hell broke loose” when the missile hit the ship. “The sailors fell through a big hole and landed in the water.”

U.S. Ambassador Sam H. Zakhem was describing what he termed a “very emotional” meeting Monday with six survivors of the Iraqi air attack on the U.S. frigate Stark that killed 28 crew members.

Two of the sailors received second-degree burns in the attack, which touched off fires, and were taken to Suleimaniyah Hospital in Bahrain. Late Monday, the two were evacuated to Ramstein Air Base in West Germany aboard an American Air Force C-141.

Knocked Overboard

Four other sailors, who were knocked overboard by the force of the blast, were taken to the Bahrain Defense Force Hospital and were later released.

Speaking of his meeting with the two burned men, whom he identified only as Mark and James, the ambassador said that both were swathed in bandages and didn’t speak at length.

“I just touched each one of them on the shoulder,” Zakhem said. “It was a beautiful experience, yet very sad. Each one said, ‘Call my Mom.’ ”

Although both men had bandaged eyes, Zakhem said he believes they will regain their sight.

“They are out of danger,” he said.

Some Slightly Wounded

In addition to the 28 dead and the two men evacuated to Germany, the ambassador said a number of sailors who were slightly wounded had remained at sea aboard the command ship LaSalle, which serves as flagship of the U.S. Middle East Force. Two other sailors were still reported to be missing.

However, a U.S. Navy spokesman in Bahrain, Cmdr. Michael Cherry, said that he has “no reason to believe” there are more than 28 dead. The Stark reportedly carries a crew of about 200.

Cherry said “everything is under control” aboard the ship and that it was being towed toward Bahrain.

He said there is no reason to believe that the Stark was in danger of sinking while en route to Bahrain.

The LaSalle, which was carrying the dead, was expected in port here today.

The four other sailors whom Zakhem saw Monday had been plucked from the water by helicopters of Bahrain’s air force after the Stark was hit Sunday night.

Zakhem said that the wounded men were under the impression that the ship was hit by two Iraqi missiles, one striking the area just beneath the Stark’s bridge and the other hitting the ship’s missile magazine.

The ensuing explosion ripped a 10-to-15-foot hole in the left side of the ship, Zakhem said.

“They didn’t know what hit them--they were working on deck,” Zakhem said, quoting the survivors.

He said that four “fell through a big hole” and that two of the men were unaware that the other two had survived until they saw lights flickering on their safety gear hours later in the water.

“They forget what happened after the moment of impact,” he said.

A fifth sailor was picked up and taken to safety on the guided missile destroyer Waddell, which, in addition to the LaSalle and two other ships, is escorting the Stark as it is towed here from the site of the attack, about 85 miles northeast of Bahrain.

Initially, survivors could not be airlifted off the burning ship because it was listing heavily and smoke was pouring out of the hull, making it impossible to land a helicopter on the deck.

The United States has an agreement with Bahrain that provides for the resupplying of American warships here and for liberty for sailors of the Middle East Force, but there are no U.S. bases here.

Dined with Admiral

Zakhem noted that he was aboard the LaSalle in port here Sunday night having dinner with the commander of the force, Rear Adm. Harold J. Bernsen, in honor of the ship’s captain, who is departing this week, when news of the attack was received.

Zakhem and the admiral and other staff officers went immediately to the embassy, where they arranged for handling of the wounded.

Zakhem, an appointee of the Reagan Administration who has been here slightly more than six months, said he doubted that the attack would change Bahrain’s attitudes about having U.S. warships in the area.

“Speaking for myself and my government, we owe the Bahrainis a strong note of gratitude,” he said.

Like other Persian Gulf Arab states, Bahrain has in the past supported Iraq in its war with Iran. Bahrain has been one of the few nations that openly support the presence of U.S. warships in the region.