June 8, 1967 USS Liberty

[raslaje]

Dean Rusk Writes about USS Liberty

Dean Rusk, Johnson's Secretary of State (in the only known instance where he disagreed with the President) wrote:
"We also lost 34 American lives when, on June 8, the fourth day of the war, the U.S. communications ship Liberty came under air and naval attack. We were meeting with President Johnson in the White House situation room, considering the implications had the Soviets or Egyptians attacked the ship, when we received word from Tel Aviv that Israeli forces were responsible. That didn't please us, although an Israeli attack on Liberty was far easier to deal with. But I was never satisfied with the Israeli explanation. Their sustained attack to disable and sink Liberty precluded an assault by accident or some trigger-happy local commander. Through diplomatic channels we refused to accept their explanations. I didn't believe them then, and I don't believe them to this day. The attack was outrageous."
Rusk's memoirs: "As I Saw It" (W.W.Norton, 1990) p388

http://www.ussliberty.org/rusk.htm

[t walgamuth]

What is thought to be the reason for them sinking Liberty?

Tom W

[Botnst]

IIRC according to the Israelis they mistook it for an Egyptian ship. I think the USA officially bought that story. There are a myriad of suppositions concerning the "actual" reason. I don't know whether any other reason has been given semi-official status by anybody who knows anything.

The accounts given by the surviving sailors are pretty awful. On several USS Liberty websites you can read various accounts.

I'll bet that the Israeli pilots were so certain that the ship was Egyptian that they ignored the frantic American attempts to identify themselves as a ruse. In time of battle when mistakes happen, young men die senselessly. It isn't pretty but as we all know from recent experiences and news reports, "friendly" fire incidents happen and innocent people die.

[Dee8go]

I think that the Liberty was an NSA or CIA operation, wasn't it? Accounts I have read led me to believe that the Israelis were slaughtering Palestinians and did not want any witnesses to talk about it afterward. I'd like to think they would not do such a thing, but have a feeling it could be true.

[John Doe]

Uh oh.

[Dee8go]

I believe I might have read that in Ted Gup's book about the CIA.

It was in a BOOK. It MUST be true, . . . . right?

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Dee8go

I believe I might have read that in Ted Gup's book about the CIA.

It was in a BOOK. It MUST be true, . . . . right?

Not gonna get me to discuss anything about Israel here on this site ever again. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Dee8go]

Oh, I wasn't sure what your "uh oh" was about. Some topics certainly do get folks riled up, don't they.

[dynalow]

June 8, 1967. I was there. On board the USS America, we launched A-4's and F-4's to go to the defense of the Liberty. They were ordered recalled by Washington enroute.

O 081235Z JUN 67
FM USS SARATOGA
TO CINCUSNAVEAUR
INFO CTG SIX ZERO PT ONE
CTG SIX ZERO PT TWO
COMSIXTHFLT
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM ROCKSTAR
I AM UNDER ATTACK MY POSIT 31.23N 33.25E. I HAVE BEEN HIT.
REQUEST IMMED ASSISTANCE
BT



Z 081301Z JUN 67
FM NAVCOMMSTA GREECE
TO COMSIXTHFLT
CTF SIX ZERO
CINCUSNAVEUR

UNCLAS

FOLLOWING RCVD VIA VOICE HICOM FROM USS LIBERTY
QUOTE
AT 081253Z AT 081253Z WE HAVE BEEN HIT BY A TORPEDO STDB SIDE
LISTING BADLY REQ ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY
UNQUOTE




DTG 081320Z JUN 67

FROM: COMSIXTHFLT

TO: USCINCEUR

INFO: AIG 998/JCS/CNO/CTF 60/CTG 60.2

UNCLAS E F T O

UNCLAS FLASHSITREP/06001/COMSIXTHFLT 081315Z JUN 67.

ATTACK ON LIBERTY

SITREP ONE

1. USS LIBERTY REPORTED UNDER ATTACK AT POSIT 31.23N/33.25E. WAS
HIT BY TORPEDO AND LISTING BADLY. ATTACK FORCES HEREBY DECLARED
HOSTILE BY COMSIXTHFLT IAW CINCUSNEURINST P03120.5B. LIBERTY
MESSAGE AUTHENTICATED.

2. HAVE DIRECTED TF 60 TO PROCEED TOWARD SCENE. TASK FORCE 60
PRESENT POSIT 34.22N/24.28E.

3. HAVE DIRECTED AMERICA TO LAUNCH FOUR ARMED A4'S AND SARATOGA
TO LAUNCH FOUR ARMED A1'S WITH FIGHTER COVER TO DEFEND USS
LIBERTY. PILOTS DIRECTED TO REMAIN CLEAR OF LAND. TANKERS ALSO
WILL LAUNCH. WILL RELIEVED ON STATION.

4. ETA FIRST ACFT ON SCENE ONE HOUR PLUS THIRTY AFTER LAUNCH.
ESTIMATE LAUNCH AT 1345Z


Here is my ship approaching the Liberty the next morning, June 9, 1967.



This picture shows the USS America, the USS Liberty and the USS Little Rock (the 6th Fleet Flagship) on June 9th,the day after the attack.


We held a memorial service for the sailors killed aboard the Liberty on June 10, 1967.

[John Doe]

Wow. Thanks for the post, dyna, and thanks for your service.

[dynalow]

Here is an article from the Chicago Trib last fall. Some interesting links from there to other govt. agency sites.
Very good chronicle of events.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-liberty_tuesoct02,0,66005.story

[John Doe]

Thanks for the excellent article.

[raslaje]

Originally Posted by dynalow

Here is an article from the Chicago Trib last fall. Some interesting links from there to other govt. agency sites.
Very good chronicle of events.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-liberty_tuesoct02,0,66005.story

Really nice job by the Chicago Tribune. It was hard to stop reading once started and I only got half-way through so I downloaded it. Thanks.

[LaRondo]

Originally Posted by dynalow

June 8, 1967. I was there.

Consider my respect paid. I have 2 stepsons in the Navy.

[dynalow]

Originally Posted by LaRondo

Consider my respect paid. I have 2 stepsons in the Navy.

Accepted, with respect.

The FDR's GFS Lutjens (D-185) rendering honors to the USS Winston Churchill (DDG-81) 9/14/01.

"We stand by you"



http://web.archive.org/web/20011008091129www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/news_stories/pentstruck19.html