In mid-January 1983 , '' Towers '' commenced Team Spirit ' 83 , a joint exercise off South Korea , followed by the periodic Nuclear Weapons Certification inspection . After a short period at Yokosuka ( 10 – 27 February 1983 ) , the warship conducted another set of battle group operations . Unfortunately , during the afternoon watch on 2 March , while en route to Chinhae , Korea , a ruptured steam line in number one fire room inflicted serious injuries on FNs Pino and Jones and BT2 Dyer ; all were med-evaced by helicopter to '' Midway '' . FN Pino died from his injuries . '' Towers '' subsequently returned to Sasebo for repairs between 2 – 19 March . Following more battle group operations , the ship returned to Chinhae for a Nuclear Technical Proficiency Inspection ( 23 – 27 March ) , thereafter participating in FleetEx 83-1 , a major northern Pacific exercise involving carriers , and '' Midway '' . Gunnery exercises in April , a joint midshipmen cruise with the JMSDF out of Kure and Valiant Usher 83 , a combined amphibious assault exercise off the coast of Korea , rounded out the summer . After a maintenance availability in Yokosuka ( 13 – 25 August ) , '' Towers '' sailed south with DesRon 15 , bound for the Indian Ocean . During the transit , the guided missile destroyer helped track a Soviet Echo II guided missile submarine and her escorts through the Malacca Straits . On 20 September , she arrived at Diego Garcia to refuel , subsequently transiting to Phuket , Thailand , for a five-day visit . After a stop at Subic Bay on 11 October , the warship supported the final salvage stages of salvage work at the Korean Air Lines Flight 007 crash site ( 22 October – 6 November ) before reaching Yokosuka on 9 November
Korean Air Lines Flight 007
Korean Air Lines Flight 007
USS Towers