1812Z 09 June 1967 drafted message text from
Secretary of Defense to
U.S. Commander-in-Chief, Europe and
Commander, Sixth Fleet

DTG 091812Z JUN 67

FM:   SECDEF

TO:   CINCEUR
      COMSIXTHFLT

INFO: CINCUSNAVEUR
      CTF 60
      USS AMERICA
      USS LIBERTY

UNCLASSIFIED 7515 FROM OASD(PA)

1. The following information was made available to newsmen
at 10:30 AM (EDT) by Phil Goulding, ASD(PA):
   The LIBERTY rendezvoused with the two destroyers, the USS
DAVIS and USS MASSEY, at about 25 minutes after
midnight (EDT) at the position 33-01N/31-59E, about 420 miles
east, southeast of Souda Bay, Crete.
   Medical personnel from the destroyers were transferred to
the LIBERTY. I believe this includes a physician and a corpsman
from each of the two destroyers.
   At 4:30 a.m. (EDT) two helicopters from the aircraft
carrier AMERICA rendezvoused with LIBERTY. This position
was 33-17N/31-25E, about 385 miles from Souda Bay.
   They immediately began transferring the more seriously wounded
from LIBERTY to AMERICA. The transfer of the 15 most
seriously wounded has been completed. The last word we had from
the ships was that they anticipated transferring a total of 35 wounded
and nine deceased.
   At 5:30 a.m. the AMERICA rendezvoused with the LIBERTY.
   A task group consisting of the AMERICA, the LIBERTY, and its
two destroyers are en route now to Souda Bay, Crete. The estimated
time of arrival is about 6:30 p.m. (EDT) tomorrow. The task group
is moving at ten knots. The most recent casualty report from the
LIBERTY is as follows: Nine dead and 22 missing, and 75 wounded.
At least 15 of the 75 are seriously wounded.
   I do not have any firm information of the 22 who are missing.
The Commanding Officer of LIBERTY has reported that he believes
that some of these missing are in flooded compartments in the forward
part of the ship.
   Next of kin are being notified as rapidly as possible. Names will
be released once next of kin notification has been completed.
   We have been asked whether countries of the Middle East
had been informed that the USS LIBERTY was taking station in the
Eastern Mediterranean.
   No countries were informed of the presence of the USS LIBERTY
in the Eastern Mediterranean. The ship was in international waters
at all times. It is a noncombatant converted merchant ship armed
only with four .50-caliber machine guns. There was no requirement
whatever to notify any other nations of the presence of an American
noncombatant ship in international waters.
   In answer to query, it was stated that two officers and ten
men were transferred from the carrier AMERICA to the LIBERTY
to help supplement the crew.

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