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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
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 the USS Liberty Images Archive.
Our 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 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.
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
The University of Kansas Military History Department has named this
The Top Military History Web Site in the United States
A version with less use of tables
THE CREW 
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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There have been
visitors to this page since
June 1, 1995
visitors to this page since
June 1, 1995
Created May, 1995, by Jim Ennes and Joe Meadors
Last updated April 10, 1996
USS Liberty
Last updated April 10, 1996
USS Liberty
