Remembering
our fallen heroes:
Spotlight: June 8^th, 1967
The USS Liberty

by Laura Dawn Lewis 

PRINT

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance in the United States, the one day a year we set aside to honor all of the soldiers and others whom have given their lives in support of our country.  The solemnity of the day is often lost on bar-b-ques and weekend chores; I recall in a poll done several years ago by one of the networks that only 53% of Americans realized why we celebrate Memorial Day, fifty-three percent?  As a nation we never have been ardent students of history.

Today Americans are high on a victory.  We invaded Iraq and overthrew the government and we’re feeling pretty good about ourselves.  Our wars fit neatly into our limited attention spans, fulfilling an addiction for real, reality TV.
  
How commercialized our wars have become became painfully obvious to me while visiting my parents. I was shocked to hear them say, “Come, let’s go watch the war.”  Disgusted I commented that the invasion wasn’t for entertainment purposes, but at times I wonder.  The orchestration was a little too neat. TOP
 

On June 8th, 1967 the USS Liberty, an Intelligence ship in the Mediterranean was deliberately attacked to minimize information gathering of the illegal invasion by our closest ally of its neighbor. 

Thirty-four American sailors died and 172 were wounded.  Fighter pilots of the attacking forces were instructed to "shoot out the lifeboats" and leave no survivors or witnesses.  Against all odds, the crew hobbled out of danger and returned to a government that has henceforth tried to cover-up this event.

This is the story of the brave sailors of the USS Liberty....and a memoriam of those whom died for their country that fateful day.

USS LIBERTY
OFFICIAL WEB SITE
 

Read Reader
Feedback
 

MORE

Rather than focus on our current reality, this Memorial Day I’d like to take you back in time to the genesis of today’s hostilities and a group of American sailors whom against the odds navigated their nearly destroyed ship out of International waters to the dismay of the attackers and to the embarrassment of our own Defense Department.  Why Robert McNamara chose to sacrifice these soldiers and why the cover-up continues is a mystery.   TOP

The Beginning

The story of the USS Liberty, an intelligence ship serving off the Sinai Peninsula in June of 1967 begins June 6^th.  This was the day the Israeli army defied international law and invaded the West Bank and Gaza strip, stripping the Palestinians of their land, water rights and ability to provide for their families.

Off shore in international waters sat a listening post and intelligence gathering ship called the USS Liberty.  Records of this invasion needed to be quelled and stopped.  Illegal operations with proof of atrocities cannot be dismissed or spun.  For the Israeli military, the USS Liberty presented a problem.  The US is an ally, yet the information this ship was gathering could be used against Israel. It could prove their intent and would not allow them to use the “security threat” story for the invasion and occupation.  The story would stand as long as proof to the contrary did not exist.   The proof must be destroyed. 

Added 01/12/2004:
This is one idea as to motive.  Motive is still unknown as was established at the January 12, 2004 Conference on the 1967 Israeli/Arab Six Day War. Many issues surrounding this tragedy will only be brought to the surface with a formal US investigation.  This formal investigation to date has never occurred as the investigating lawyer for the US government Captain Ward Boston states in his January 10, 2004 affidavit.

Also see Betrayal behind Israeli attack on U.S. ship By ADM. THOMAS MOORER, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1970 to 1974 Houston Chronicle | Jan. 9, 2004
 

What is known is orders were given to the Israeli Air Force and Navy to sink the USS Liberty.  Of special note was the order to “shoot out the lifeboats”, a detail not known until the pilot transcripts were released in 1991.  Survivors would be witnesses and this was not acceptable.  The Israeli military commenced deliberately attacking the ship of an ally, our ship in peacetime.  Had it been any other country, the US would have considered this attack a declaration of war.  For years following the attack on the USS Liberty, the Israeli Military attempted to spin the story as an accident of mistaken identity, claiming they had mistaken the ship for a freighter.  In 1991, the transcripts from the pilots were released clearly showing the aviators first questioning and then incredulous to the fact they were attacking an ally before reconfirming and carrying out the orders.  They saw the American flag on the USS Liberty.  This was communicated several times before the pilots began firing on the ship and the orders stood.  Sink the Liberty. TOP

If there is one thing The Passion of the Christ has exposed, it is Hollywood power structure's blatant racism against all things showing Christianity in an inspirational light or shining a harsh spotlight on Israel; so much that the heads of DreamWorks SKG won't say anything negative about Mel or the movie publicly but vow to show it through their actions by not promoting or having anything to do with any projects he's associated with.  This leaves one to wonder if in fact they do not have a serious agenda which cares little about Americans or even tolerance of our differences.  And it also explains the following.

During the early 1980's a well known leading man in Hollywood became interested in the story of what happened to the USS. Liberty in 1967.  The story has all the elements of a summer blockbuster: intrigue, action, human drama, good over evil and a triumphant ending overcoming all odds. He investigated a bit, held a few meetings with survivors, and went to top-level friends in Hollywood to try to get a movie made, himself possibly starring Captain McGonagle.  He not only failed.  He was very explicitly warned by the powers that be:  "Don't even mention this again.  If you even try to go ahead with this you will never work in Hollywood again."

HOLLYWOOD, ISRAEL and "THE JEWS" By Mark Bruzonsky

The Passion may do a lot more than inspire Christians.  It's shown though Hollywood elites attempt to decide what we see to keep our opinions in their camps, they can be challenged and success does not depend upon their blessing. Perhaps now Americans may soon see how extraordinary the miracle of the USS Liberty's surviving and escape truly was in a film commemorating this phenomenal story representing everything America stands for: Truth, Justice, Courage and a Belief in Freedom...including the freedom to celebrate our heroes without being threatened or called "anti-Semitic" because the attacking country's feelings got hurt.
 

Personally, I have a problem with that.  TOP

The crew of the USS Liberty had the misfortune of being attacked by the only country to which  US public opinion grants full immunity and to which US foreign policy and media turn a blind eye.  Had the unprovoked attack been made by Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia or even Russia at the time, the USS Liberty would have become a rallying cry and every American would know the story.  Had it been any other aggressor, the heroic and extraordinary efforts of Captain William Loren McGonagle, and his crew would have graced a dozen movies and countless books. Instead, for 36 years nearly every attempt has been made to squash it.

Conclusion

Since that fateful day in 1967, the survivors and the families of the slain sailors have wanted nothing more than recognition for the experience and an end to the imposed gag orders.  Captain William Loren McGonagle received the Congressional Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty during the attack. The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award our country can bestow.  To avoid embarrassing our attackers, Captain McGonagle's Medal of Honor was presented in a quiet ceremony in the Washington Navy Yard instead of in the White House by the President as is customary.

The legacy of the USS Liberty is one of heroism that is long over due.  This Memorial Day, honor the men and their families. Take a moment to remember the crew of the USS Liberty.

Read Reader Feedback