37 Missile Victims Remembered : Stark Arrives in Port to Cheers, Tears for Missing

MAYPORT NAVAL STATION, Fla. — The U.S. Navy frigate Stark came home today to yellow ribbons, hand-lettered welcome signs, a brass band and cheering families, but the hoopla was subdued by the memory of the 37 men killed aboard the ship.

The Stark and its crew of 170 pulled into Bravo 2 dock, from which it departed six months ago for the Persian Gulf, where it was hit by an Iraqi missile.

A cheer went up from the crowd as the ship tied up, and one excited boy shouted, “There’s Daddy!”

The crew streamed off the ship into the waiting arms of their relatives. Many were in tears.

“I’ve cried a few times already,” said Tom Porter as he stood proudly at the side of his son Tim, who spent 11 hours in the water the night of the missile attack on the Stark.

Tim Porter said the missile hit near his berth and he found himself in the water. He shared a life ring with three other men until a helicopter found them the next morning.

“I plan to get lots of rest--no work,” said the sailor, who added that the trip home had been difficult.

Crewman Robert Kummrow, who was in the Stark’s communications center when the missile struck in May, said they first feared the ship would sink.

“You have your doubts, but you do your job until all hope is lost,” he said as his mother, Jackie Kummrow of Charlotte, N.C., squeezed his hand.

“I’m proud of him, I’m proud he’s in the Navy,” she said.

Relatives expressed sympathy for families who had lost someone during the attack.

“I feel really sad for the families that can’t be here today,” said Kummrow’s sister, Laura Theriault of St. Petersburg.

Mayport Chaplain Bill Perry said the families of the victims would not be forgotten today. Chaplains were asked to comfort them “while everybody else is celebrating,” he said. Perry said most of the families of the dead just want to be alone.

Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Hazouri proclaimed today as Yellow Ribbon Day and urged residents to display yellow ribbons to welcome the Stark.