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2209Z 08 June 1967 transmitted message text from
U.S.S. America to
Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

P R 082209Z JUN 67
FM USS AMERICA
TO OASD PA
INFO COMSIXTHFLT
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
FLEET PAO SENDS
1. FOLLOWING NEWS COPY FORWARDED FOR YOUR ACTION.
2. QUOTE SECOND ADD DETROIT NEWS COPY ONE FLIER RUNNING PAST A
NEWSMAN BELOW DECKS SAID, "WELL, THIS LOOKS LIKE IT." PARA
TWO OTHER OFFICERS DASHING THROUGH COMPARTMENTS TO GET TO THE
FLIGHT DECK AND THEIR PLANES SAID, ONE TO THE OTHER, "I WISH THE
------ THEY'D TELL US WHO WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT." PARA
THE PLANES WERE LAUNCHED AND THOSE ALOFT ON THE EARLIER TRAINING
MISSION WITH THE SMOOTH PRECISION THAT MARKS EVERY ACTIVITY
ABOARD THE SHIP. PARA
THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT HAVE GONE FAR BEFORE THE AIR BOSS ANNOUNCED
THE STRIKE IS BEING CALLED BACK. APPARENTLY THE NATURE OF THE
ATTACK ON THE LIBERTY HAD BEEN QUICKLY ASCERTAINED. PARA
ADDING TO THE EXCITEMENT ABOARD THE AMERICA WAS THE AGGRAVATING
MANEUVERING OF A SMALL RUSSIAN PATROL CRAFT ESCORT WHICH HAD BEEN
MOUSE TO THE CAT-EYED ESCORT DESTROYERS OF THE AMERICA. PARA
ASW MORNING, THE KHAKI-COLORED RUSSIAN DODGED IN CLOSED TO THE
AMERICA, TRYING TO "FAKE OUT" THE DESTROYER IN ORDER TO COME RIGHT
ALONG SIDE THE BIG CARRIER PM PARA
THE BIG-HULLED DESTROYERS, TRYING TO ANTICIPATE THE SMALLER SHIP'S
EVERY MOVE, HEELED HARD OVER IN ADROIT WHEELING TURNS AS FOAMING WAKES
CRISS-CROSSED EACH OTHER. PARA
HOWEVER, THE SMALL RUSSIAN WAS NOT DISCOURAGED. SEVERAL TIMES IT
GOT SO CLOSE THAT MEN ABOARD THE AMERICA COULD SEE RUSSIAN CREWMEN
IN BLUE SHORTS AND WHITE HATS AND COULD HEAR ITS WHINING GAS
TURBINE ENGINE. PARA UNQUOTE.
BT

Note: See COMSIXTHFLT 081716Z JUN 67 for reason press copy sent to OASD(PA).