Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California, on 27 February 1976 as part of the FY76 program, Sides was laid down on 7 August 1978, launched on 19 May 1979, and commissioned on 30 May 1981.

Sides and her crew received a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the time period 13 April 1988 to 25 July 1988.

Naval Institute Proceedings in which Carlson called into question Vincennes' self-defense justification for the use of force and wrote, "Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down for no good reason.

Will Rogers of Vincennes and David L. Dillon, speaking on behalf of the US Navy, challenged Carlson's account of events.

[4] Sides was decommissioned on 28 February 2003 and as of 2014 was laid up in reserve at Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility Bremerton, Washington.