Many United States Navy warships visit Fort Lauderdale. Early in 1988 the USS Simpson berthed at Port Everglades and our son John's friend, Fred Wheeler - who had gone to school with John in New Hampshire - invited us to take a tour of his ship. Fred Wheeler was one of the helmsmen of the Frigate, Simpson.
Fred Wheeler
Fred showed us around the Simpson and pointed out the area of the ship where a sister-ship, the USS Stark, was attacked and sustained casualties in the Persian Gulf.
Fred told us of the training exercises and joked about whether his shipmates "could hit the side of a barn."
They got their chance when a few days later the Simpson embarked for the Persian Gulf. On April 19, 1988 the Simpson was involved in a battle with Iran that showed the courage and skill that the United States Navy has time and again demonstrated against the enemies of the United States.
Keep in mind that Fred Wheeler at that time was just twenty years old - too young to buy a beer in many states...too young to rent a car - but old enough to be at the helm of a multi-million dollar state-of-the art warship of the United States.
Here is the story in Fred's words taken from a letter he wrote to us after the battle:
I received your letter & newspaper today.Great to hear from you. This was the first article from a major newspaper I've seen. Believe it or not they sent our mail to Cuba to the USS Sampson, so we've had quite a delay in getting our mail. Yours was the first I've actually gotten since the 19th [of March].
Well, to set the record straight on what went out here I'll give you a summary:
0000 19 April 88 Simpson's C.O. departs via motorwhaleboat for meeting with CO's from USS Wainwright [guided missile cruiser] and Bagley [frigate].
0400 Simpson Commanding Officer returns.
0600 Simpson goes to General Quarters with me at the helm where I will remain until 1600.
0900 Arrive at oil platform - warn it to evacuate.
0915 Simpson fires w/76 mm, Wainwright w/5 inch and Bagley w/5".
0945 Platform is an inferno. Simpson expends 35 rounds, Wainwright 30 rounds and Bagley 8 - due to jammed gun.
1000 Group hauls a** in search of guided missile patrol boat reported to have attacked oil rig.
1230 Patrol boat is found.
1240 PTB warned - "Suggest you abandon ship - we are about to sink you."
1240 + 1 sec. Iranians fire harpoon missile. Simpson fires SM1 missile. Simpson launches CHAFF and maneuvers to throw off missile. Missile misses but comes so close you could hear it whoosh by. Simpson missile hits superstructure of PTB.
1241 Simpson and Wainwright fire again. Simpson again hits superstructure. Wainwright misses.
1243 Simpson again fires hits above main deck but ship is now burning.
1245 Group hauls a** due to inbound Iranian aircraft.
1255 Group returns to scene - Simpson launches final SM1 - hits amidships. PTB begins to sink.
1300 Wainwright, Simpson, Bagley open up w/guns to finish off job.
1300 Present time spent running around at slightest indications of Iranian uprising.
1600 Secure from General Quarters.
It was the most incredible thing to be on the helm during the whole marathon and see everything go up right before my eyes. I've left out a lot, but I could spend days telling every last detail.
Love, Fred
Bill Jodun, a crewmember of the USS Simpson and a friend of Fred Wheeler has started a web site at: http://cypherx1.homestead.com/ with the hope of reuniting crew members of the USS Simpson.
Richard Q. Fowler
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