Customer Reviews

Storm Center: The USS Vincennes and Iran Air Flight 655 : A Personal Account of Tragedy and Terrorism

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1 star:		(7)

 

 

"Storm Center" is a sad work of fiction. Capt. Rogers still insists that he didn't order the Vincennes into Iranian territorial waters, despite the admission by the US Navy (finally made after 3 years of denials) to the ICAO, the contents video tape made during the incident, as well as the data from the Vincennes itself and also the control towers in the region. This was NOT an act of self-defense, since Rogers was the one who violated his own ROE and illegally crossed into Iranian waters to shoot up some speedboats when he was under no threat. The Vincennes was the one which initiated the fight, inside Iranian waters. She was not coming to the aid of any tankers either. The incident was an act of reckless mass homicide at best, and the fact that the true events were covered up by the US Navy for 4 years until the Newsweek/Nightline expose leaves an indelible stain and taint on the honor of the UN Navy. A lot of patriotic flag waving isn't going to clean this up either.

This is pure apologia. Readers who are genuinely interested in learning more about the real facts surrounding the downing of Iran Air 655 should read the letter by Capt. Carlson of the USS Sides which was published in the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, and partially re-printed in the San Diego Union Tribune on September 10, 1989. In addition, there is an excellent article entitled "Sea of Lies" in Newsweek, July 13 1992, by J. Barry and R. Charles.

This book is a pathetic apology from a man who tried to rationalize and justify for what was arguably the biggest military blunder ever that bordered on mass killing, and on top of that, he tried to make few bucks off it by writing a book about the incident. If it weren't for the political circumstance that surrounded the downing of Iran Air Flight 655, William C. Rogers III would most likely been prosecuted for making a colossal blunder that took away the lives of 290 civilian passengers and also contributed to strain US and Iran relations for decades. Despite numerous warning signs, he acted well beyond gross negligence and recklessness and fired on a passenger airliner. His action was inexcusable and reprehensible. Black and white evidence from independent sources is there for anyone who is capable enough to research and see it with their own eyes - which will clearly indicate that William C. Rogers III acted irresponsibly and recklessly. And his actions led to what most independent sources consider as the biggest military blunder ever. At the time, US government had very little choice but to support his action due to the political circumstance surrounding it; however, in these post 9/11 days, maybe we should another look at this incident and bring at least a civil action against William C. Rogers III on behalf of the victims to see the justice done and to remind ourselves that excusing this type of action not only damages our own sense of humanity but also helps to create more and more terrorist who will try to exact their revenge on oblivious US civilians who, for the most part, are largely unconcerned and uneducated about what goes on outside the border.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Rogers engages in a very, very selective interpretation of the events surrounding the downing of the Iranian civilian airliner on July 3, 1988. Furthermore, the FBI's only real suspect for the "terrorist" bombing of Mrs. Roger's van was a former personal friend of the Rogers who held a grudge. All in all, this is not an accurate portrayal of the regrettable events surrounding the Iran Air 655 incident.

I read this book and found many inaccuracies. Mr. Rogers was in Iran's territorial waters when he killed 290 people, including 66 innocent children. First of all, i could not believe that he is trying to profit from their deaths. I guess it wasn't enough that he and his crew all received medals for successfully downing a commercial airliner. Secondly, I thought he would have expressed some remorse for murdering all those innocent people, but nothing to that effect was found in the reading. If I were him, thank God im not, b/c i have a conscience, I would probably have gone crazy if I had ordered the murder of all those people...including 66 innocent children. And they call Iran a terrorist state? Imagine that.

I have the utmost respect for the soldiers who risk their lives to defend our country and our way of life. But... when one looks at the fact about this so-called "accident" it is clear that those in charge were so full of war-time blood-lust to kill the "enemy." Who they killed were 290 innocent travelers on a commercial airline.

Of course, when one is responsible for such needless death, they need to create another reality in their heads so they can get by. But, the truth is there and it is important for all Americans to know what our military does in our name.

God bless the hard working and intelligent soldier. Rogers is not one of these men.

The epitome of history as fictional narrative. Buyer beware.

Capt Rogers was very much in denial about his crew. Upon return to the US in 1988, 32 members of the ship were arrested, removed and discharged from the Navy for the use of drugs of various types. As the only law enforcement officer onboard the ship at the time. This book fails to even come close to fully disclose what did happen between July 1988 and May 1989. Yes, the downing was justified. However, the question still remains, WAS THE CREW THINKING CLEARLY AT THE TIME IT HAPPENED. The NCIS, FBI, myself and those onboard know what happen and no one is talking. Ms. Rogers's thoughts have been shaded buy her blind faith in her husband and the fact that the Navy did not want the word to get out about the crew and its drug use.

THE USS VINCENNES SHOOTDOWN OF IRANIAN AIRLINER WAS ON PURPOSE NOT BY MISTAKE AND A SIMILAR ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURED WITH TWA FLIGHT 800 WHICH CRASHED INTO THE ATLANTIC ON JULY 17 1996 AND BLAMED ON THE NAVY

Having been aboard Vincennes from October 18, 1984 (precommissioning) through December of 1988, there was no person by the name of Charlie (Charles) Bilyeu aboard. Yes, there were some folks that I knew to have taken part in some sort of illicit drug use, but they were removed. I do recall some of the BM's having been caught via random urinalysis with THC and methamphetamines, but no more than any other ship on the waterfront at that time. Most of those (32 is a bit of an exaggeration) were caught after a few months in home port...not on July 3rd as Charlie Bilyeu is trying to imply.

People like Charlie Bilyeu need to actually present facts when accusing Captain Rogers or the crew. He presents none. He wasn't even on the ship. He is a liar.