Attack on the Attack on the LibertyLiberty

34 American Servicemen 34 American Servicemen KilledKilled

171 Wounded171 Wounded

Congress Has Never Congress Has Never InvestigatedInvestigated

The The USS LibertyUSS Liberty

Lightly-armed “spy ship” outfitted Lightly-armed “spy ship” outfitted with sophisticated, long-range with sophisticated, long-range listening devices.listening devices.

Intercepted foreign electronic Intercepted foreign electronic messages for analysis at National messages for analysis at National Security Agency headquarters in Security Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

May, 1967May, 1967

Dispatched to Mediterranean because of Dispatched to Mediterranean because of rising tensions between Israel & Egypt.rising tensions between Israel & Egypt.

LibertyLiberty requests destroyer escort. requests destroyer escort. Denied: “Denied: “LibertyLiberty is a clearly marked U.S. is a clearly marked U.S. ship in international waters. … Not a ship in international waters. … Not a reasonable subject for attack by any reasonable subject for attack by any nation,” replies Admiral Martin.nation,” replies Admiral Martin.

June 7, 1967June 7, 1967 (shortly before midnight)(shortly before midnight)

Office of US Defense Attaché in Tel Office of US Defense Attaché in Tel Aviv sends coded message to NSA Aviv sends coded message to NSA that Israel that Israel intends to attackintends to attack LibertyLiberty if if her course is not changed.her course is not changed.

June 8, 1967June 8, 1967

US initially responds (0030) by ordering US initially responds (0030) by ordering LibertyLiberty to go from 12 ½ to 20 miles off to go from 12 ½ to 20 miles off coast. Message misdirected to Philippines coast. Message misdirected to Philippines and never reaches and never reaches LibertyLiberty..

US then (0130) instructs US then (0130) instructs LibertyLiberty to go no to go no closer than 100 miles from the coasts of closer than 100 miles from the coasts of Egypt & Israel. Due to misrouting, the Egypt & Israel. Due to misrouting, the message takes 16 ½ hours to reach message takes 16 ½ hours to reach Liberty. Liberty.

Reconnaissance FlightsReconnaissance Flights

June 8, 4June 8, 4thth Day of War Day of War

0600: Israeli “flying 0600: Israeli “flying boxcar.”boxcar.”

0900: Jet 0900: Jet approaches approaches LibertyLiberty, then veers , then veers off toward Gaza.off toward Gaza.

1000: Two rocket-1000: Two rocket-armed jets circle armed jets circle LibertyLiberty three times. three times.

1030: Israeli “flying 1030: Israeli “flying boxcar” circles boxcar” circles LibertyLiberty at 200 feet. at 200 feet. Sailor on deck and Sailor on deck and co-pilot exchange co-pilot exchange waves.waves.

1100, 1130, 1215, 1100, 1130, 1215, and 1245: Further and 1245: Further reconnaissance reconnaissance flights. (Eight since flights. (Eight since 0600.)0600.)

Did Israel Know?Did Israel Know?

Reconnaissance Reconnaissance aircraft report to aircraft report to Israeli headquarters Israeli headquarters that “GTR-5” is that “GTR-5” is written on the ship, written on the ship, identifying it as a identifying it as a NSA intelligence NSA intelligence vessel.vessel.

A clear, sunny day. A clear, sunny day. Fresh US flag raised Fresh US flag raised at 0720. at 0720.

Israeli Naval Israeli Naval headquarters headquarters receives report receives report from Israeli Air from Israeli Air Force headquarters Force headquarters that the ship is “an that the ship is “an audio surveillance audio surveillance ship of the U.S. ship of the U.S. Navy, named Navy, named LibertyLiberty . . . “ . . . “

Admiral Thomas MoorerAdmiral Thomas Moorer

““To suggest that they (IDF) couldn’t To suggest that they (IDF) couldn’t identify the ship is ridiculous. identify the ship is ridiculous. Anybody who could not identify the Anybody who could not identify the LibertyLiberty could not tell the difference could not tell the difference between the White House and the between the White House and the Washington Monument.”Washington Monument.”

——Washington Post, 15 June 1991.Washington Post, 15 June 1991.

The Attack: June 8, 1967The Attack: June 8, 1967

The AttackThe Attack

1358: Two Mirage jets attack, first 1358: Two Mirage jets attack, first taking out gun mounts, then taking out gun mounts, then targeting antennae and bridge with targeting antennae and bridge with heat-seeking missiles.heat-seeking missiles.

1405: Three Mystere jets attack with 1405: Three Mystere jets attack with napalm and rockets. Attackers also napalm and rockets. Attackers also attempt to jam attempt to jam Liberty’sLiberty’s radio radio circuits, but request for assistance circuits, but request for assistance reaches Sixth Fleet. reaches Sixth Fleet.

The Attack The Attack ((continuedcontinued))

1435: Three torpedo boats launch 1435: Three torpedo boats launch five torpedoes, one striking five torpedoes, one striking starboard, where 25 of the 34 men starboard, where 25 of the 34 men perish. Boats then circle, machine-perish. Boats then circle, machine-gunning the gunning the LibertyLiberty with armor with armor piercing projectiles for another 40 piercing projectiles for another 40 minutes. Attackers deliberately minutes. Attackers deliberately destroy deployed lifeboats. destroy deployed lifeboats.

The Attack: The Attack: SummarySummary

After two hours of intense attack, After two hours of intense attack, Israelis realize they are unable to sink Israelis realize they are unable to sink the the LibertyLiberty and leave no survivors to and leave no survivors to tell the tale. They fear, too, that tell the tale. They fear, too, that rescue aircraft from the Sixth Fleet rescue aircraft from the Sixth Fleet are on the way. Now they offer are on the way. Now they offer support to the survivors. Commander support to the survivors. Commander McGonagle, badly wounded, refuses. McGonagle, badly wounded, refuses. Losses: 34 killed, 171 wounded.Losses: 34 killed, 171 wounded.

Rescue Aircraft RecalledRescue Aircraft Recalled

Aborting RescueAborting Rescue

Minutes after first attack, carrier Minutes after first attack, carrier SaratogaSaratoga dispatches 12 fighter- dispatches 12 fighter-bombers to bombers to Liberty’sLiberty’s aid only to be aid only to be instructed to recall them. instructed to recall them.

Carriers Carriers AmericaAmerica and and SaratogaSaratoga were were told to launch again in 90 minutes. told to launch again in 90 minutes. When they did so, aircraft were again When they did so, aircraft were again recalled. recalled.

Why? Why? Why?Why? Why? Why?

Admiral Lawrence Geis has attributed Admiral Lawrence Geis has attributed the abort orders to Secretary of Defense the abort orders to Secretary of Defense McNamara. After McNamara ordered McNamara. After McNamara ordered call-back of second launch, Geis asked call-back of second launch, Geis asked for confirmation from McNamara’s for confirmation from McNamara’s superior. President Lyndon Johnson then superior. President Lyndon Johnson then came on the line and said the launches came on the line and said the launches were canceled because “we are not were canceled because “we are not going to embarrass an ally.”going to embarrass an ally.”

The Cover-UpThe Cover-Up

Ward BostonWard Boston

Sr. Legal Counsel to Sr. Legal Counsel to Naval Court of Naval Court of Inquiry into the Inquiry into the attack.attack.

Silent on the matter Silent on the matter until Jan., 2004.until Jan., 2004.

He and Adm. Isaac He and Adm. Isaac Kidd, president of Kidd, president of the Court of Inquiry, the Court of Inquiry, given one week.given one week.

Denied permission Denied permission to go to Israel or to go to Israel or contact Israelis. contact Israelis.

Took hours of Took hours of “heartbreaking” “heartbreaking” testimony from testimony from young survivors. young survivors.

Survivor Larry WeaverSurvivor Larry Weaver

Airlifted, near death, to USS Airlifted, near death, to USS AmericaAmerica, , for 1for 1stst of 26 major surgeries. of 26 major surgeries.

Sent to Philadelphia Naval Hospital Sent to Philadelphia Naval Hospital for recovery.for recovery.

After 4 days in intensive care, After 4 days in intensive care, interviewed by an Admiral. interviewed by an Admiral.

Boston’s 2004 StatementBoston’s 2004 Statement

Pres. Johnson and Pres. Johnson and Sec. McNamara Sec. McNamara orderedordered inquiry to inquiry to conclude attack conclude attack was a case of was a case of “mistaken “mistaken identity.” identity.”

Saw American flag Saw American flag riddled with bullet riddled with bullet holes.holes.

Heard testimony Heard testimony making it clear Israel making it clear Israel intended no intended no survivors.survivors.

Concluded (with Concluded (with Adm. Kidd), on basis Adm. Kidd), on basis of documentary of documentary evidence and evidence and testimony, that testimony, that attack was attack was deliberate. deliberate.

Eyewitnesses IgnoredEyewitnesses Ignored““Never before in the history of Never before in the history of the US Navy has a Navy the US Navy has a Navy Board of Inquiry ignored the Board of Inquiry ignored the testimony of military testimony of military eyewitnesses and taken, on eyewitnesses and taken, on faith, the word of their faith, the word of their attackers.”attackers.”

--Capt. Richard F. Kiepfer, USS Liberty Survivor

Capt. McGonagleCapt. McGonagle

Survivors Speak Out Survivors Speak Out

James E. Ennes, Jr.James E. Ennes, Jr.

On the bridge during seven of the eight On the bridge during seven of the eight reconnaissance flights.reconnaissance flights.

Defied gag order after leaving service Defied gag order after leaving service to write “Assault on the Liberty” using to write “Assault on the Liberty” using interview notes compiled over 12 years.interview notes compiled over 12 years.

The book, published in 1979, died in the The book, published in 1979, died in the bookstalls, a victim of silent black-bookstalls, a victim of silent black-balling. balling. Washington PostWashington Post had early had early favorable review, then refused to favorable review, then refused to publish a paid ad. publish a paid ad.

LVA: LVA: The More Time That The More Time That Passes…Passes…

… … The number of Americans won The number of Americans won over by our story increases.over by our story increases.

… … More prominent Americans will be More prominent Americans will be speaking out against the cover-up.speaking out against the cover-up.

… … The day nears when USS The day nears when USS LibertyLiberty crew, families and supporters will crew, families and supporters will find reality in the CIA motto: “Truth find reality in the CIA motto: “Truth will prevail.”will prevail.”

The EndThe End