LIBERTY ESSAY CONTEST, NATIONAL WINNER Carrie Ritter, Age 18, Corpus Christi, TX 78410 Tuloso-Midway High School, Grade 12 --------------- GIVE ME LIBERTY AND GIVE ME THE TRUTH Triumph and tragedy are often birthed from the same parent. Such an occurrence took place in 1967 when the fate of a United States Naval vessel was sealed by events beyond the sailors' control. Tragedy came first, but triumph prevailed. The triumphs and tragedies surrounding the events concerning the ship and crew remain a source of keen historical interest. The year 1967 was fraught with innumerable changes for the United States. The space program halted after a fatal accident on Apollo I. Race riots broke out in Detroit, and baseball great Mickey Mantle was at the top of his game. Mod makeup and funky clothing reigned. The country was focused on the Viet Nam Conflict, when the Six- Days-War began in the Middle East. Since early spring, Egypt had threatened Israel. In May, Nassar ordered the United Nations peacekeepers to leave Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Israeli tanks reported for duty on the Sinai Peninsula stirring Egypt to call up 100,000 army reserves and close the Gulf of Aqaba. On May 23, 1967, the Israelis termed the blockage "an act of aggression against Israel." In less than two weeks, Israel had moved across its borders in a preemptive strike. On June 2nd, the ill-fated, intelligence gathering USS Liberty departed from Rota, Spain, en route to the eastern Mediterranean. The ship was told to hone in on communications in the area and report to the National Security Agency (NSA). However, orders for the ship's locations were given out by the Navy. NSA officials expected the Liberty to anchor off the coast of Crete, but Naval authorities directed the ship to "troll" off the Egyptian/Israeli coast in international waters. On June 8, 1967, Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats heavily strafed and attacked the Liberty. The lambasting killed 34 and injured at least 171 others from a crew of 289. What occurred on that fateful day still remains a conflict between Israel and the United States. Many Americans maintain the attack was deliberate, while the Israelis claim it was an accident of mis- taken identity. Events placing the ship in danger actually began on June 7. The ship was noted on Israeli radar, and reconnaissance missions were organized to discover its identity. The day was clear, while a large American flag flew proudly over the Liberty. Israel recognized the ship as an allied U. S. intelligence ship. Officers heard Israelis reporting the ship as American on their radio frequencies. Israeli pilots even waved to Liberty crewmen. At the same time, NSA was making every effort to get the ship moved from its dangerous location. Removal messages were passed to the Navy who delivered them through a confusing communications system. The Liberty failed again and again to receive the orders. Messages were even mistakenly sent to the Philippines. A congress- ional committee later called this "one of the most incredible failures of communications in the history of the Department of Defense." The reconnaissance continued early on June 8th. The crew of the Liberty relaxed. However, around 2:00 p.m., the Americans' false sense of security crumbled. Radar operators detected three jet aircraft and three torpedo boats approaching from the east. The Americans were not alarmed, assuming this was another reconnaissance mission. Suddenly, orange flashes streaked across the ship, and men were thrown into the air from the force of the blasts. Mirage jets attacked the ship, disabling its only defense, the four 50- caliber machine guns. Radio antennas were knocked out as well. Mystere jets added to the strafing by pummeling the ship with endless napalm bombs, and flames rose up from all sides of the ship. Radiomen desperately sought a clear radio frequency, and even after a napalm bomb exploded in their compartment, they continued to send distress calls. The USS Saratoga received Liberty's calls for help. Captain Joseph Tully did not wait for instructions. He turned his ship into the wind and launched aircraft. Before they could reach the distressed ship, Washington furiously recalled them. The Saratoga crew was frustrated as they knew they were the Liberty's only chance for survival. Why the jets were told to return remains a mystery, although some speculate that President Johnson told the officers he would "...not embarrass America's allies." Not to give Russia the impression we were engaged in war, Johnson informed Premier Kosygin on the hot line that American jets had been sent out for the sole purpose of investigating the incident. The attack from the air endured for an additional 30 minutes. Torpedo boats soon arrived to finish the job. Five torpedoes were fired; only one succeeded, severely damaging the ship. It directly hit the cryptological compartment, killing 25 and momen- tarily trapping 50 more men. The 40-foot hole threatened to sink the ship. Captain McGonagle considered abandoning ship. However, rubber rafts were shot out of the water by Israeli torpedo boats as the Liberty crew lowered them overboard. Eventually, Israeli helicopters arrived bringing an American attache. He dropped a note among the dead asking if there were casualties. Even the torpedo boats returned to signal, "Do you need help?" The Americans made a reply containing a few expletives. This message amounted to "No thank you!" The attack on the Liberty was unprovoked and seemingly unexplain- able. On the other hand, the crew members and many experts believe that Israel had indeed planned the attack and its subsequent cover- up. First, the American flag, international maritime symbol for 200 years, was clearly visible with twelve knots of wind holding it unfurled. Additionally, fourteen foot high letters "AGTR-5" in English, not Arabic script, marked the ship as American. The Israelis admit looking at Jane's Fighting Ships to identify the craft. Furthermore, they had recorded the Liberty as the only non-Israeli ship in that sector. Therefore, the fact that it was non-Israeli should have told the attackers that it was American. Finally, during the attack, a Liberty signalman repeatedly identi- fied the ship. In the thirty ensuing years theories have developed as to the motives of the Israelis, if indeed this was a deliberate attack. The most plausible of these explanations lies with their desire to take the Golan Heights. Previously, the Israelis had expressed their intent to take this territory. The U.S. government insisted Israel remain on the defensive. Secretary of State Rusk stated, "...military action against Syrian positions on Syrian soil... casts doubt on Israeli intentions and creates gravest problems." So when our "spy ship" came into the war zone threatening to inform on their movements, Israel became outraged. They sought out the Liberty to completely destroy it and any eyewitnesses to their aggressive actions. No matter what the motive, many Liberty survivors and other Americans hold that this was an intentional attack. However, Israel refuses to acknowledge this. They continually reply that this was just a "tragic mistake" that often occurs in the midst of wars. Both the Israeli and American Navies immediately initiated Courts of inquiry to discover the true nature of the incident. Israel gave a formal apology and paid compensation to the families of men killed and wounded--a total of $7 million. Israel vehement- ly refused to cover the $8 million fee for the battered ship. Their government would not accept the idea that it was the sole contributor to the attack. They felt the United States had made some mistakes that brought about dire consequences. The official U.S. Inquiry agreed that the incident was a horrible mishap and accepted the apology. Liberty crewmen, however, felt that the facts were covered up. The major tragedies of damage to the ship and the death of the men are obvious. But there were other tragedies as well. The denial and cover-up by both the United States and Israel was an embarrassment to the sailors. Captain McGonagle, who courageously kept the ship afloat, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, quietly and privately at the Naval Shipyard rather than at the White House. Until Israel steps forward and acknowledges their intent in the attack, there will be no closure for the crew or the families of the deceased. And yet, out of this tragedy arose long-reaching triumphs. First, the men were able to keep the ship from sinking. No other ship of its type has taken such a torpedo hit and remained mobile. Secondly, the number of men who did survive was miraculous. Con- tinuing to support each other emotionally, the crew has organized survivors meetings. Lastly, this incident and the one involving the Pueblo later in 1967 sparked action for Naval changes. Intell- igence ships are no longer built without heavy artillery, nor are they sent out unescorted. Also, the military communication system has undergone augmentation and improvement. Throughout history, man has learned about himself through tragedy. The lessons learned during this event are no different. Truly, the bravery of the men has not waned over the years. Thus, the triumph of this historic episode lies within the strength and courage of the human spirit which ultimately prevailed. --end--