Torpedo hole as seen from drydock in Malta

The flag that flew during the air attack
This was the second of three flags that flew during the attack
© coldwar.org

This web site is dedicated to the memory of thirty-four fine young men
who gave their lives on June 8, 1967, defending the USS Liberty
against a sustained air and sea attack by the armed forces of the State of Israel

During the Six Day War between Israel and the Arab States, the American intelligence ship USS Liberty was attacked for 75 minutes in international waters by Israeli aircraft and motor torpedo boats. Thirty-four men died and 171 were wounded.

The attack has been a matter of controversy ever since. Survivors and many key government officials including Secretary of State Dean Rusk and former JCS Chairman Admiral Thomas Moorer say it was no accident. Israel and its supporters insist it was a "tragic case of misidentification" and charge that the survivors are either lying or too emotionally involved to see the truth.

Israel claims they mistook our ship for the out-of-service Egyptian horse carrier El Quseir and that we brought the attack upon ourselves by operating in a war zone without displaying a flag. Not so. We were in international waters, far from any fighting, and flew a bright, clean, new American flag. The flag we flew is on display at the National Cryptologic Museum, Fort Meade, Maryland and can be seen there, or in the USS Liberty Images Archive.

Our commanding officer, Captain William Loren McGonagle, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepedity 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 USS Liberty Web Page presents part of the story along with some historical information and links to other sources.


More about the USS Liberty.

Rescue efforts the next day
click for larger image

1967 photo aboard USS Liberty

Captain William McGonagle died March 3, 1999

Photo and page from The Washington Post, April 10, 1999

Story of funeral by The Washington Post

Tribute from Bucks County Courier Times

Photos from funeral at Arlington National Cemetery
and Dedication of McGonagle Building in Virginia

New York Times Obituary
Washington Post Obituary
San Diego Union Obituary
Los Angeles Times Obituary
Press Release by No Greater Love
Herald Tribune Letter to Editor
Jerusalem Post Letter to Editor
Washington Post Letters to Editor
Eulogies


June 13 Tribute by columnist Jerry Jonas

Liberty web sites by other USS Liberty crewmen

An open letter to Senator John Warner from a Liberty widow

Intelligence or submarine professionals:
Can you help us gather more information?

Captain McGonagle's letter to President Clinton

The Retired Officer, August 1998, honors our skipper & discusses the attack

Read what the Jewish Student Online Resource Center has to say

US Navy Court of Inquiry testimony

There was a witness!

Important new report by historian John Borne, Ph.D.,
with introductory remarks by John Mahoney
and supporting expert opinion by Admiral Thomas Moorer

The story of the attack in a few words

Is this site fair and balanced?

Charley Reese reviews new book about USS Liberty

Published feedback from Reese's review

Author Tom Clancy about the USS Liberty

Hear the story in their own words with Real Audio Player

Naval Institute Proceedings article by historian Richard K. Smith

San Antonio Express-News interviews US Marine Survivor

Orlando Sentinel on Israeli policies and USS Liberty

Why was Liberty abandoned under fire?

Japanese magazine highlights USS Liberty Home Page

Morrisville, Pennsylvania, remembers USS Liberty

Why did Israel attack? A new report based on eyewitness accounts from the Israeli press

The Phoenix Gazette compares Israeli excuses for carnage

Statement in Congressional Record by Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney - June 6, 2002

The USS Liberty: Still Covered Up After 35 Years

A Top Gun looks at (((A. Jay Cristol's))) account of what a jet pilot can see and how a jet pilot operates

Another view of the "Egyptian warship" we were mistaken for

Who Says the Liberty Attack was Deliberate?

Navy Captain, Other Officials Call for Investigation of Israel's Attack on USS Liberty

A new look at Israel's bombing of the USS Liberty

A courageous legislator describes the political cost of supporting the USS Liberty

Soviets say it was no accident

(((Michael Oren))) Attacks Liberty

UNDISPUTED LIBERTY FACTS!

The Wisconsin Library Wars

The Official Position of the United States

Survivor Gary Brummett Speaks Out

Survivor Ken Ecker Speaks Out

USS Liberty Survivor Joe Lentini Replies to a Critic

GARY BRUMMETT'S Liberty damage pictures

Israeli Photo Fraud

Ship's Logs Were Doctored

Assault on the Liberty - Addendum to 2002 Edition

Attack on a SIGINT Collector: The USS Liberty

The IDF History Report

USS Liberty: Dead in the Water

pravdura.htm

THE SHIP THE CREW THE ATTACK THE COVER-UP

BOOKS	FILES	PICTURES	MEMORIALS and AWARDS	WE SAY	THEY SAY
Charley Reese reviews Borne's book	File list	photo gallery	Memorials to our lost shipmates	Ask Survivors and others	Apologist Hank Roth attacks survivors
Books about the attack	Israel's official excuse	Our ship looked like this	Governor Clinton honors our ship	Survivor Sturman remarks	IDF Historian supports the excuse
More books and articles about the attack	Legal advisor rejects Israel's excuse	and this	President Clinton honors our ship	Survivor Hrankowski remarks	Yitzhak Rabin supports the excuse
Sample chapter from Jim's book	Dean Rusk rejects the excuse	They say they mistook us for this	Cities & States honor our ship	Survivor Lentini remarks	Chaim Herzog supports the excuse
How to order Jim's book	Clark Clifford rejects the excuse	The result was this	American Legion honors our ship	Jim Ennes remarks	Hirsch Goodman supports the excuse
Naval Institute reviews Jim's book	Lyndon Johnson rejects the excuse	and this	Grafton, Wisconsin honors the ship	George Ball rejects the excuse	Abba Eban supports the excuse
Washington Post reviews Jim's book	JCS Chairman rejects the excuse	and this	The US Navy honors the ship	James Bamford rejects the excuse	Robert McNamara accepts the excuse
Ennes reviews Borne's book	Navy Under Secretary rejects the excuse	and this	Awards and Medals	Adlai Stevenson rejects the excuse	Stewart Steven supports the excuse
The Aegean Park Press book	Intelligence Professionals reject the excuse	and this	Annual Ceremony by No Greater Love	Jim's 1981 Defense Electronics article	Dan Raviv supports the excuse
San Antonio Express reviews Borne's book					Israeli "torpedoman" tells his story
					An Israeli speaks out