"Arabian Gulf
May 14, 1957 - April 15, 1985
He will soar on wings like eagles. - Isaih 40, 40, 31."

The thrust of the new orders to skippers of US warships in the gulf, officials said, will be to free them to respond to calls for help from ships in their immediate area but not sail all over the gulf looking for trouble. The officials did not spell out exactly how and when the new policy will be implemented, on grounds that this would clarify US intentions for would-be attackers. The extension of the Navy umbrella will not require additional ships in the gulf, the Pentagon said. The president's order ends more than a week of speculation that the United States would take such a step in the aftermath of clashes 11 days ago in the gulf in which US forces sank or disabled six Iranian vessels. 

The Marines lost a Cobra helicopter gunship during the naval battles April 18, 1988. The Marine Corps yesterday listed the two-man crew, Captain Stephen C. Leslie and Capt Kenneth W. Hill, as killed in action, but did not confirm Iran's claim that it shot the craft down. Arabian Gulf.