On Thursday, June 8, 1967: “. . . jet aircraft and motor torpedo boats of Israel brutally assaulted an American naval vessel, the USS LIBERTY, in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea. The attack was preceded by more than six-hours of intense low-level surveillance by Israel photo-reconnaissance aircraft, which buzzed the intelligence ship thirteen times, sometimes flying as low as 200 feet directly overhead. The carefully orchestrated assault that followed was initiated by high-performance jet aircraft, and was followed up by slower and more maneuverable jets carrying napalm, and was finally turned over to lethal torpedo boats, which blasted a forty-foot hole in the ship’s side.
“The attack lasted more two hours-killing 34 Americans and wounding 171 others – and inflicted 821 rocket and machine-gun holes in the ship. And when the LIBERTY stubbornly remained afloat despite her damage, Israeli forces machine-gunned her life rafts and sent troop-carrying helicopters to finish the job. At this point, with Sixth Fleet rescue aircraft finally enroute, the government of Israel apologized and the attacking forces suddenly withdrew. Only then did the identity of the assailants become known.”
— James M. Ennes, Jr., USN, Ret.,1
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In the aftermath of the June 8, 1967 air and naval attacks, the 294-member crew of the U.S.S. Liberty – an intelligence-gathering technical research ship (AGTR-5)2 – received the “most decorations awarded for a single ship action in U.S. history.” 3, 4
Fifty years later, there are still calls for an honest and complete Congressional investigation that will include the eyewitness accounts of survivors and reflect all the facts. Simply put, the attack on the Liberty involves far more than the attempt of an “ally” to sink a lightly-armed5 U.S. Navy ship and kill the crew. Because at that time, Israel’s “Six-Day War” – also called the Third Arab-Israeli War6 – was well underway against neighboring Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.7
Many questions remain unanswered. Secrets are hidden in undisclosed documents and in heavily redacted FOIA-released materials. And, as two surviving officers of the attack on the Liberty have critically pointed out (all emphasis added):
“Never before in the history of the United States Navy has a Navy Board of Inquiry ignored the testimony of American military eyewitnesses and taken, on faith, the word of their attackers.”
— Dr. Richard Kiepfer, Captain, Medical Corps8
“ Except for a few high ranking naval officers, no one has felt our pain of not knowing exactly why the ship was attacked. Over thirty-one (31) years after the attack, the crew is entitled to know the details concerning the attack by the Government of Israel and also the details of the role the US Government in the entire affair. Why were our aircraft recalled to their carriers on two (2) occasions before they reached our location to assess the situation, and what official ordered the recall after ‘Hot Line’ communication was established with Moscow to alert Nasser that the planes were being sent to see what the condition of USS LIBERTY was? None of the planes ever reached our location. For over seventeen (17) hours we received no assistance from US forces in the Mediterranean.
“This is the only US Navy ship attacked by a foreign nation, involving a large loss of life and so many personnel injured that has never been accorded a full Congressional hearing.”
— William L. McGonagle, Captain, USN (Ret.)9
The 50-year institutional negligence of the U.S. Congress to conduct an honest and thorough investigation does not have to be a reason for the assault on the U.S.S. Liberty to remain hidden from public view. On the contrary: anyone adverse to being kept in the dark can hear the revealing eyewitness accounts of survivors:
James M. Ennes, Jr. | History Counts, 2/1/12
https://wn.com/israel’s_assault_on_the_u.s.s._liberty_with_james_ennis
Phillip “Phil” Tourney speech, 10/13/07
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCDjoc7FBbk
Donald “Don” W. Pageler presentation, 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUU08xnVaGM
Ernest “Ernie” A. Gallo speech, 3/7/14
http://natsummit.org/transcripts/ernie_gallo.htm
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On the following 29 pages you will find more about the attack on the U.S.S. Liberty and crew, as well as a list of resources with links to documents, maps, websites, interviews, speeches, presentations, statements, documentaries, and articles.
Endnotes [Information accessed February 2017]
1 From the book jacket of James M. Ennes, Jr.’s Assault on the Liberty (Random House, New York, 1979, ISBN 0-394-50512-3). Quote posted at http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/60/6005.htm
2 USS Liberty (AGTR-5), NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/60/6005.htm
3 Inscribed on a USS Liberty memorial, Rochester, NY; Erected by Thomas F. Healy, Post 16, VFW of the U.S.; Dedicated 6/8/10 http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WME8Q6_USS_Liberty_memorial_Rochester_NY
4 U.S.S. Liberty crew’s Awards and Citations: 1 Congressional Medal of Honor, 2 Navy Crosses, 12 Silver Stars, 20 Bronze Stars, 9 Navy Commendation Medals, 208 Purple Heart Medals, and 294 Combat Action Ribbons. USS Liberty website. http://www.ussliberty.org/roster.htm
5 The U.S.S. Liberty “was armed with only four 50-caliber machine guns with an effective range of less than two miles. It was cruising at about 5 knots.” Source: Ken Ringle, “In 1967, Israeli Forces Bombarded a U.S. Intelligence Ship, Killing 34 Americans and Leaving a Legacy of Suspicion”, Washington Post, 2/1/03, p.C01. Posted at: http://www.fpp.co.uk/History/General/USS_Liberty/WashPost010203.html
6 Israel’s Six-Day War “took place June 5–10, 1967, and was the third of the Arab-Israeli wars. Israel’s decisive victory included the capture of the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Old City of Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights; the status of these territories subsequently became a major point of contention in the Arab-Israeli conflict.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Six-Day-War
7 Third Arab-Israeli War, 1967, History of the Middle East Database, Ted Thornton http://www.nmhtthornton.com/mehistorydatabase/1967_third_arab.php
8 Quote on a plaque dedicated to the service members who died from the June 8, 1967 Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty. Plaque dedication: October 10, 2014, Manistee, Michigan. http://www.salem-news.com/articles/october242014/ussliberty-plaque.php
9 “Open Letter to President Clinton,” William L. McGonagle, Captain, USN (Ret.), 10/24/98. http://www.ussliberty.org/mcg2prez.pdf
© Debra K. Niwa, March 2017. All rights reserved. This 30-page document has been created for educational purposes. Permission granted to print out on personal printers and to photocopy, if used in its entirety and without charge. Pdf downloadable from:
The Voice of Idaho News [http://tvoinews.net/pdfs/USS_Liberty_50th_Anniversary.pdf]
Vicky Davis’ The Technocratic Tyranny [http://www.thetechnocratictyranny.com/PDFS/USS_Liberty_50th_Anniversary.pdf]
9 Comments
Ken
There was miscommunication between Israel and the U.S., so Israel thought it was an Egyptian ship ready to attack them. When Israel found out after the attack, they apologized to the U.S. and the families of the deceased and wounded, and paid them the equivalent of $46 million in today’s dollars. What good reason would Israel have had to attack their best friend? No way Israel would have attacked that ship on purpose, as they had their hands full from being attacked from all sides from those who hated them, prescribed by a holy book of hate. Jews may be hated, but they aren’t that stupid. The USA was then, and still is (with Trump), the best friend Israel has ever had. But there are still those who believe Israel attacked the U.S. ship on purpose, just as the USA brought down the Twin Towers on purpose. And some historians believe that the Sundance Kid is buried right above Salt Lake City (Hirum Beebe). At least now, since Israel won the 6 day war, then no longer have a 9 mile wide country to defend.
admin
Kenny, what you are repeating is the official storyline. If you listen to the survivors tell the story, there was no mistake because the ship was clearly marked as an American ship. Plus, it is know through the accounts of others who were on duty that day – and in particular, one commander who sent assistance to the Liberty, Robert McNamara called the air support back. When the commander who sent the support objected and said he needed high authority, Lyndon B. Johnson himself called the support back.
Israel is not our friend. Israel’s only friend is Israel. They use the United States like a two-bit street whore for their agenda.
honky hanky
Of course, I agree with the notion that the official story is a transparent cover up, which requires threats and bullying to enforce. However, I do not align myself with the comment that the ‘ Israel’s only friend is Israel.’. This is beyond speculation, and wanders into demonization, which actually makes your case weaker, to all but those who are looking for a Zionist boogeyman. Although I understand your reasons for that statement, it is very unclear who is manipulating whom, in this case, as well as 9/11. What did US power players know? When did they know it? What kinds of blackmail and pressure were exerted in both directions? I don’t think we will ever know the answers to those questions.
But if we must assume something, this is my angle. The people who run the governments, militaries, and spy rings of virtually every country are up to their eyeballs in lies and schemes. They end up playing each other on this field of corruption, sometimes one more guilty of lies and double-cross than the other, in particular cases. The general population everywhere is mainly interested in more common human pursuits, including peace and truth. Having said that, everyday people in the Middle east, especially Israel, are more paranoid than us in the USA, but with good reason. Still, careless generalizations are a bad idea, and fuel for people who find comfort in hate and a more clearly defined target.
‘Two bit street whore’? It really belies your objectivity and allegiance to evidence.
admin
What power players knew and when did they know it… I don’t give a damn. What I do care about is that LBJ allowed a US Navy ship to be attacked by a country that was ostensibly an ally. That attack says more about Israel than any other thing I’ve seen. As far as the religious aspect of it… I don’t give a damn about religion. I do care about loyalty.
And yes.. I said “two bit street whore” and that’s exactly what I meant. Israel feels free to expand their territory and treat the Palestinians in an inhuman manner because Israel has the backing of the U.S. We do have a lot of zionists in our Congress that put Israel’s interests above the interests of this country and that pisses me off.
Also, frankly, I don’t know what we get out of the relationship with Israel except a lot of people dead. Britain created the problem – they should be the ones carrying Israel on their back – not us.
honky hanky
We don’t know who is blackmailing whom, at any particular moment.
But there are things we do know, and yes, they are worthy of outrage. But more importantly, we should prioritize progress in mass awareness whenever possible. Although you can imagine motives and satanic influences, they are not supported by the evidence the way the actual events are. In other words, this (and other), acts of sabotage should be exposed, and re-raised for everyone to know about. If you want to reach people who just don’t know about this stuff, then presenting yourself as objective is very valuable.
Expressing your anger and lack of objectivity is counter-productive to awakening others.
Are you more interested in having people rally around your clearly stated hate?
Sticking to the facts is much more persuasive and respectful to your thinking audience.
honky hanky
June 8 is the anniversary day. There are many videos on youtube now. All of them are more full of evidence than the Wikipedia regurgitation of the official story cited by Ken. Everyone should look at them and then judge, especially before weighing in, and ‘educating’ us, on how everything’s just peachy keen.
Here is one I just re-watched.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZluFfyQ7sAI
The only thing that I agree with in Ken’s post is that those who doubt the official story here are often the same people who doubt the official story of 9/11. That, of course, is just speculation with the sole purpose of denigrating and shaming us away from even questioning such things, but his guess is probably true. This has to do with psychological and propaganda issues. I invite you to question your own biases as easily as you do those of people you wish to dismiss as foolish and reckless. Why would you believe Wikipedia more than the crew of the ship and the top military leaders of the day. Look and judge. Or do you need another ‘safe space.’
William Van Winkle
I would like to know if any of the crew aboard USS Liberty were the Valdez during her 12/65-12/66 cruise. Is there any place where I can find this info?
William ‘Rip’ Van Winkle, CTR 1, USNS Jose F. Valdez, 12/65-12/66
admin
Here is the link to the USS Liberty Veterans Association. http://usslibertyveterans.org/ They might be able to answer your question.
Debbie
I heard about the USS Liberty some years ago. I did a cursory look into the attack, but didn’t find much back then. Additionally, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that a U.S. “ally” would intentionally try to sink a “lightly-armed” U.S. Navy ship and kill the crew.
Years passing, the issue came up again. This time I decided to dive into the subject and persist in finding information. The 30-page pdf I put together is a compilation of a couple months of research.
There is no way that anyone who considers all the facts known today could logically conclude that “miscommunication” and “misidentification” were the reasons behind the attack.
In addition to “honky hanky’s” suggestion (which is a link to “The Loss Of Liberty” | Written/directed by Tito Howard | 2002), these are also documentaries worth watching:
The Day Israel Attacked America | 10/30/14
Directed by British filmmaker Richard Belfield
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2014/10/day-israel-attacked- america-20141028144946266462.html
[Note: Scroll down the webpage and read “Filmmaker’s View” — Richard Belfield tells how he learned “about the attack on the USS Liberty in 1980 over dinner with a former analyst from the National Security Agency (NSA) in Washington DC.”]
Israel’s Bomb: A Radioactive Taboo
Directed by German documentary filmmaker Dirk Pohlmann | 2012
This film has a segment on the USS Liberty at time stamp 34:30 to 40:00
https://archive.org/details/IsraelsBombARadioactiveTaboo
USS Liberty: Justice for the Liberty | Break of Dawn Productions | 2011 Written/produced/edited by Eric Calhoun and Matt Hodges
Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP_l2FyMKuk
DVD: https://usslibertyveterans.org/store.html https://youtu.be/799Y63EzKik
USS Liberty: Dead In The Water | BBC Documentary | 2002