USS Liberty AGTR-5

Commissioned December 1964; Decommissioned June 1968

A TRIBUTE TO THE SACRIFICE AND HEROISM OF HER CREW

Outfitted to collect and process electronic intelligence, Liberty was on patrol in the Mediterranean when the Arab/Israeli Six-Day War began. On 8 June 1967, following Israeli reconnaissance overflights, the air and naval forces of Israel attacked Liberty in international waters for 75 minutes, killing 34 men and wounding 172. Though clearly marked as a U.S. Navy ship, Liberty was attacked repeatedly by Israeli jets with rockets, cannon, gunfire and napalm. Three Israeli torpedo boats joined the assault, one torpedo killing 25 men instantly. The torpedo boats then circled the disabled ship, machine-gunning men on the decks and lifeboats in the water. The attack ceased only after the Navy radioed that help was coming, but no defenders came. A Sixth Fleet carrier dispatched the officers and crew worked heroically to overcome battle damage and save the wounded, and kept the ship afloat until ships from the Sixth Fleet arrived 16 hours later. Israel's explanation ("a tragic accident") has been rejected by Liberty's crew and widely refuted. Liberty's Captain received the Medal of Honor.