Captain tells of `heroes' saving U.S. ship in gulf

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (AP) The captain of the frigate Samuel B.Roberts, in his first phone call to the United States since the shipstruck a mine in the Persian Gulf, said he was told twice to abandonship.

But Cmdr. Paul X. Rinn said his crew of "heroes" saved a shipthat was hit so hard its stern rose 15 feet in the air and flamesshot 100 feet through its stacks.

"It was close, really close," Rinn said. "We took a very badhit."

Rinn's account of the Thursday incident came during a 15-minutephone call Saturday to his wife, Pamela, who traveled to Rhode Islandfrom South Carolina for a dinner held by the crew members' wives.

About 25 wives were at the …