08 June 1967

At 1403 on 08 June 1967, the fourth day of the brief Arab-Israeli War, while conducting communications and electronic research operations, U.S.S. Liberty (AGTR-5) was attacked by Isreali jet fighters. A bomb hit portside amidships, and two or more Israeli fighters made repeated strafing, fragmentation bomb, and rocket runs over the ship. As a result, three major fires raged topside.

At 1424, three motor torpedo boats, flying the Israeli flag, approached at high speed and at 1434 attacked. Three torpedoes were fired; one passed astern, a second may have passed beneath the ship, and the third exploded on the starboard side, forward, tearing a 39-foot-wide hole in the hull; 34 men were killed, 171 were wounded in the aircraft and torpedo boat attacks. Although severely wounded. Comdr. W. L. McGonagle, the commanding officer, remained at the conn to guide the ship out of shallow water.

Liberty arrived at Valletta, Malta 14 June in company with USS Little Rock. (CLG-4), USS America (CVA-66), USS Davis (DD-937), and USS Papago (ATF-160). After undergoing repairs, she departed Valletta 16 July for the States in company with Papago.

On 6/08/07 James E. Lehr (Cpl.USMC 1967-1969) contributed:

“.....concerning the USS Liberty, I believe we had received replenishments the day before the attack on the USS Liberty.  When we received info concerning the attack, we were advised to empty the coolers in order to preserve the two to three sailors who were killed during this incident.


Robert“RJ”Leon (SK3 1966-1968) on 6/09/07 said:

“I was aboard the Rock during the USS Liberty incident I have several pictures taken a we were pulling up to the listing ship. We were full ahead all night to reach the Liberty.  I thought the ship was going to fall apart.


Mark Lehmann (LT 1966-1968) on 6/09/07 contributed the following:

“I was the 2nd Division officer and an OOD during that time. We did indeed make a dash from a position almost in the Straits of Gibralter to get to the Liberty, which had been hit. I too felt like the ship was going to fall apart because of the vibration at high speed! Two faster, closer DD's were sent ahead to protect the Liberty. Our carriers provided air cover and helicopters to evacuate the dead and seriously wounded. Little Rock pulled alongside about 1,000 yards away and sent our Utility boat over (see photo) to bring aboard the "walking wounded." 2nd Div. was in charge of those boats so I was  one of those there to lend a hand to the men coming aboard. I believe that then Lt. John Cochram,  a member of the assoc. who was the DCA, was sent over to evaluate damage and report to 6th Fleet. In another of the attached photos you can see the carrier on the other side of Liberty. (some photos courtesy of Cdr. Hix). These photos, by the way, have been provided to the USS Liberty Association.  For a huge, detailed report of the incident by the survivors, go to their website, http://www.ussliberty.org.


On 08 June 2007 Alan Caminiti (SK2 1968-1970) added the following :

"I joined the ship in Italy in May 1968 and the word then was that we had raced to the scene and actually put some bodies in our reefer. A number of Rock crewmembers took photos of the Liberty all shot up."


Mark Lehmann (LT 1966-1968) on 6/09/07 added:

“For those who want to see a very interesting, rather complete (1 hr. long) BBC documentary on the entire history of the Liberty and the "incident" go to www.whatreallyhappened.com/ussliberty.html . There is one brief shot of the Little Rock, but the background information is fascinating and scary. The launching of the aircraft toward Egypt, corroborates with my memory of watching them take off from the carriers while I was on the bridge.


Larry Daly (BT-3 1966-68) on 23Oct 07 told us:

I served aboard the "Rock" from 1966-68 and I remember when we pulled up to her (the Liberty) and I could not believe that she took that much damage and still remained afloat. A tribute to the rest of the crew and their damage control party's.

I took several pictures of the "LIBERTY" and soon after sent them home by mail. The day which I sent the pictures home was a few days later after the attac.  I watched as our helo was making it's daily mail run, and about to land on the U.S.S. America when I noticed that she (the helo) was dropping all the mail bags over the side into the sea.  As it turned out the helo was having machenical difficulties and needed to lighten it's load to make to the flight deck aboard the America.

Tucked in between the two pictures of the Liberty I placed two twenty-dollar bills for my mom to help out at home, as I did often. Well I kissed them pictures and the money good by. Thankfully the helo landed safely and I was surprised about a week later to get a soggy envelope with my pictures and money back ...

Side Note:  CT3 William Bernard Allenbaugh, one of the thirty four crewmen killed in the attack on the USS Liberty was the brother of Eleanor Allenbaugh-Moen.  Eleanor is the wife of USS Little Rock Guided Missleman Anthony "Tony" Moen, Missile Division 1963-1965.

Related Links:

U.S.S. Liberty Official Website

Little Rock Chronological History