USS Liberty Remembrance

If you’re like most Americans, you’ve never heard of the USS Liberty incident. The U.S. government has kept the incident quiet for decades, and continues to resist FOIA requests for details today.

On June 8, 1967 during the Six Day War, the USS Liberty was attacked by Israeli military aircraft and torpedo boats. The attack killed 34 crew members, wounded 171, and severely damaged the ship. The ship was a noncombatant collecting signals intelligence in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula.

The survivors of the attack claim the attack was deliberate, the Israelis claim it was a case of mistaken identity, and (according to the survivors) the U.S. government has covered up the incident.

Every year, the survivors of the USS Liberty meet to honor those who served with them, those who have passed on, and to retell the stories.

Deliberate?

The USS Liberty survivors claim that the attack was deliberate and numerous others agree:

• NSA Director Lt General Marshall Carter
• CIA Director Richard Helms
• Deputy Director NSA Major General John Morrison
• British author Peter Hounan

There are fewer people of note who believe the attack was a case of mistaken identity.

Memorials

• Arlington Cemetery Section 34
• Rochester, NY
• Delaware Valley USS Liberty Memorial

Sources