USS Gridley (DLG-21) the "Spruance"-class destroyer to escort reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz during Operation Earnest Will. While homeward bound, transiting the South China Sea, "Gridley" rescued Vietnamese refugees sighted in a small boat off of the coast of Vietnam. A Vietnamese-speaking crewman aboard "Gridley" was able to translate for those rescued, facilitating the process. "Gridley" returned to San Diego in June 1989. On 17 October of that year, the ship's visit to Naval Station, Treasure Island, California, was interrupted by the 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay area. "Gridley"s crew provided assistance to victims
1989 West Papua earthquake 1989 West Papua earthquake The 1989 West Papua earthquake struck West Papua, Indonesia – then Irian Jaya province – on August 1 with a moment magnitude of 6.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII ("Severe"). Around 120 people were killed, mainly due to landslides and mudslides. The West Papua earthquake struck at 9:17 local time and measured 5.7 and 6.0 on the moment magnitude scale. Its epicenter was located south of Jayapura; the earthquake reached as far as Wamena. There were multiple aftershocks. The earthquake killed 120 people and left 120 injured; all of the dead were recovered from