On 3 July 1988, "Vincennes", under the command of Captain Will Rogers III, was on patrol when it was reported that Iranian Revolutionary Guard gun boats had attacked a Pakistani merchant vessel. "Vincennes" deployed one of her helicopters to investigate. Shortly thereafter Rogers ordered his ship to move off station to the north. The destroyer flotilla commander ordered "Vincennes" to return to her original station. "Vincennes"s helicopter had followed the Revolutionary Guard gunboats into Iranian waters, and while maintaining contact with the boats, came under gunfire from the Iranians.