Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, on 23 January 1978, Stark was laid down on 24 August 1979, launched on 30 May 1980, and commissioned on 23 October 1982.

The ship was struck on 17 May 1987 by two Exocet anti-ship missiles during the Iran–Iraq War fired from an Iraqi aircraft officially identified as a Dassault Mirage F1 fighter,[3] The Reagan administration attributed the blame to Iran for its alleged belligerence in the underlying conflict.

The autonomous Phalanx CIWS remained in standby mode,[6] Mark 36 SRBOC countermeasures were not armed until seconds before the missile hit.

The ship made its way to Bahrain where, after temporary repairs by the destroyer tender USS Acadia to make her seaworthy,[7] she returned to her home port of Naval Station Mayport, under her own power.

American officials have claimed he was executed, but an ex-Iraqi Air Force commander later said that the pilot who attacked Stark was not punished, and remained alive.

[9] According to Jean-Louis Bernard, author of "Heroes of Bagdad" T1 (Editions JPO 2017), the pilot, Abdul Rhaman, not only was not punished, but would have received the medal of bravery at the end of 'a joint Iraqi-American commission of inquiry.

[clarification needed] Citing lapses in training requirements and lax procedures, the U.S. Navy's board of inquiry relieved Captain Brindel of command and recommended him for court-martial, along with tactical action officer Lieutenant Basil E. Moncrief.

Instead, Brindel and Moncrief received non-judicial punishment from Admiral Frank B. Kelso II and letters of reprimand.