USS LIBERTY

USS LIBERTY

This page 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


Israel claims they mistook our ship for the 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 the USS Liberty Images Archive.



Selected "Top US Military History Site"



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USS Liberty's commanding officer, Captain William Loren McGonagle, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepedity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty when his ship was attacked by Israeli air and naval forces. The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award our country can bestow.


The USS Liberty Home Page is a creation of Jim Ennes and Joe Meadors, survivors of the attack,
with support and encouragement from other survivors.

Joe was a signalman on the bridge during the attack
and is a former chairman and president of the USS Liberty Veterans Association.

Jim was an officer on the bridge when the attack started
and is author of Assault on the Liberty (Random House 1980; Ballantine 1986) which tells the story.



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About the USS Liberty:

In 1967 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 since 1967. Survivors and many key government officials including Secretary of State Dean Rusk say it was no accident. Israel and its supporters insist it was a "tragic case of misidentification" and charge that the survivors are lying.

The USS Liberty Page presents part of the story along with some historical information and links to other sources.

More about the USS Liberty.





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Index to the USS Liberty archives:

  • About the USS Liberty
  • How to navigate through this document
  • We maintain a public archive of USS Liberty files
  • We maintain a public archive of USS Liberty images
  • A powerful video and how to get it
  • Some recommended books about the USS Liberty (including my own)
  • Some honors accorded to the USS Liberty
  • Comments about the USS Liberty by government leaders and others
  • Complaints from less prominent people
  • Review comments about Assault on the Liberty by James Ennes
  • Some supporters have come under fire
  • Liberty memorabilia available for sale
  • Download Liberty files to your own computer
  • Leave mail for survivors with your questions
  • Write to government officials in both countries
  • Visit our file archive to see files from both sides
  • Visit our FTP site and browse or download files at will
  • Visit other Home Pages covering related subjects
  • Three presidents and a growing list of cities, states, counties and veterans organizations have honored our men
  • President Clinton honored the ship when he was Governor of Arkansas.
  • President Clinton sent greetings to the 1995 reunion of USS Liberty survivors
  • The American Legion honored the ship during its most recent convention.
  • Memorials for our men around the country and the world
  • Public statements by people on both sides of the issue
  • President George Bush honored the crew with a reception in the Rose Garden in 1991.
  • Please sign the visitors' register
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    Books about the Liberty and where to find them:

  • Jim's book, Assault on the Liberty, out of print but still available.
  • Excerpts from John Borne's book, USS Liberty, a study of the cover-up, who pulled it off, and how they did it.
  • Review of John Borne's book, from The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
  • Wayne Barker's book, Attack on the USS Liberty, contains vital documents about the attack.
  • Warriors for Jerusalem by Don Neff, Simon & Schuster, available in libraries or order from American Educational Trust 1 800 368-5788
  • Taking Sides by Stephen Green, Wm. Morrow, available in libraries or from American Educational Trust
  • They Dare to Speak Out by Paul Findley, Lawrence Hill & Company, available in libraries or from American Educational Trust
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    Reviewers comments about Assault on the Liberty:

  • The Washington Post review in the Book World section.
  • Naval Institute Proceedings, the official journal of the U. S. Naval Institute at Annapolis.
  • The Washington Star, Washington DC's now-defunct afternoon newspaper.
  • The Atlanta Journal
  • The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
  • The Hartford (Connecticut) Courant
  • Author Seymour Hersh
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    Supporters of the USS Liberty also include:

  • The American Legion
  • The Veterans of Foreign Wars
  • The American Education Trust.
  • The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
  • The Council for the National Interest.
  • Why do they get so much abuse?
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    USS Liberty Files:

  • Statement by Liberty Radioman Richard "Rocky" Sturman.
  • Statement by Liberty Cryptologic Technician Joe Lentini
  • Statement by Liberty Boiler Tender John Hrankowski
  • Israel's still-secret Official Excuse for attacking the USS Liberty.
  • US Government's in-house refutation of Israel's contrived excuse.
  • Analysis by Joe Meadors of the Thames USS Liberty documentary shown on the Discovery Channel.
  • Phoenix Gazette June 7, 1995, editorial comment on the USS Liberty.
  • San Diego Union-Tribune June 12, 1995, report on 28th anniversary reunion of USS Liberty.
  • Addendum to Ballantine paperback edition of Assault on the Liberty.
  • Excerpt from a new book about the USS Liberty cover-up by Dr. John E. Borne.
  • List of USS Liberty fatalities.
  • Chapter Six from Assault on the Liberty.
  • Statement by former Illinois Congressman Paul Findley.
  • Foreword to Assault on the Liberty by Admiral Thomas Moorer.
  • Statement by naval hero Admiral Arleigh Burke.
  • San Diego Union article about the attack and cover-up.
  • Bibliography of published articles about the USS Liberty.
  • Review of The Secret War Against the Jews.
  • The Washington Report 1988: The Golda Meir and USS Liberty Library brouhaha.
  • Letter to the Milwaukee Jewish Council following the Council's efforts to block construction of a library honoring men who died in the attack.
  • Letter to a leading spokesperson for the opponents to the USS Liberty Public Library.
  • Prizewinning essay in national contest sponsored by the USS Liberty Veterans Association.
  • Who is Jim Ennes and why is he saying these awful things about Israel?
  • Who is Joe Meadors and why does he say the same terrible things?
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    Where to find the best documentary video:

    Patrick King of Sligo Productions in Los Angeles has produced a powerful video telling the story of the USS Liberty through official film clips, private films, and interviews with survivors and principals. That video is now available for $19.98 from Fusion Video. To order call toll free 1 800 959-0061 or fax 1 708 799-8375. Ask for "USS Liberty Survivors: Our Story," order #5846.

    Questions? Write directly to the producer, Patrick King of Sligo Productions.

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    Would you like to download some of these files?

    Enter here to see the directory and download anything you wish..

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    For questions about the USS Liberty you may write to:

    Rick Aimettii is president of the USS Liberty Veterans Association and was a shipfitter aboard the ship.

    Frank O'Classen is vice president of the USS Liberty Veterans Association and was an electronic technician aboard the ship.

    Jim Ennes is historian for the Association, is author of Assault on the Liberty, and was on the bridge during the attack.

    Richard "Rocky" Sturman is editor of the USS Liberty Newsletter and was a radioman in the ship. Visit Rocky's USS Liberty Page

    Joe Meadors is a past president and former chairman of the Associaiton and was on the bridge during the attack.

    John Hrankowski worked in the engineering spaces. Read John's statement in the Liberty files archvie.

    Joe Lentini was a cryptologic technician. Read Joe's statement in the Liberty files archive.

    Harold Six was a cryptologic technician.

    Your Senator. Find his name and email address here. Ask him why Congress has never investigated.

    Your Representative. Find his name and email address here. Ask him why Congress has never investigated.

    Ask President Clinton to order the release of all USS Liberty documents. Many are still withheld because they might "embarrass an ally".

    Senator Kennedy, after a year studying USS Liberty files, wrote that everything possible must be done to find the truth. Then he declined to help. Did he wither under pressure? Ask him. Then send us his reply.

    The Israel Information Service offers answers on line to questions about Israel. Ask them about the Liberty.

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    Send comments, complaints, suggestions or attaboys to: Jim or Joe
    Keep up to date on Liberty news. You can be notified by email every time there is a change to this page
    Visit Jim's personal page (unrelated to the Liberty issue)
    How to order Jim's book
    Visit the USS Liberty files archive
    Visit the USS Liberty images archive
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    Please sign the visitors' register





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    Created May, 1995, by Jim Ennes and Joe Meadors
    Last Modified December 3, 1995
    USS Liberty