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1737Z 14 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe to
Chief of Naval Operations and
Commandant Marine Corps

P 141737Z JUN 67
FM CINCUSNAVEUR
TO CNO
CMC
INFO COMSIXTHFLT
USCINCEUR
BUPERS
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
ELIGIBILITY OF USS LIBERTY CASUALTIES FOR PURPLE
HEART AND OTHER AWARDS (C)
A. BUPERS 121902Z (NOTAL)
B. SECNAVINST P1650.1C
1. PARA 2 REF A STATES QUOTE ALL CASUALTIES USS
LIBERTY BEING CARRIED AS DEAD VICE KILLED IN ACTION
UNQUOTE. THE STATEMENT, ALTHOUGH RECOGNIZED AS
NOT DETERMINATIVE, MAY RAISE SOME QUESTION WHETHER
ISRAELI ATTACKERS ARE TO CONSIDERED QUOTE
OPPOSING ARMED FORCES UNQUOTE FOR PURPOSE OF PARAS
221-3 AND 231-12 OF REF B GOVERNING ELIGIBILITY OF
LIBERTY PERSONNEL FOR AWARD OF PURPLE HEART.
2. EVEN THOUGH ACTION OF ISRAELI FORCES MAY HAVE
RESULTED FROM SOME ERROR INTERNAL TO IDF, IT IS
EMINENTLY CLEAR THAT, SO FAR AS LIBERTY WAS CON-
CERNED, SHE WAS ENGAGED IN ACTION WITH OPPOSING
ARMED FORCE OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY. THESE OPPOSING
FORCES WERE, BY DEFINITION, HOSTILE. LIBERTY'S
CASUALTIES WERE THEREFORE KILLED OR WOUNDED EITHER:
   (A) IN AN ACTION WITH AN OPPOSING ARMED FORCE OF A
FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES WERE THEN ENGAGED (PAR 231-12B(2), REF B):
OR
   (B) AS THE RESULT OF AN ACT OF ANY SUCH OPPOSING
ARMED FORCE (PAR 231-12B(4), REF B): OR
   (C) AS THE RESULT OF AN ACT OF ANY HOSTILE FOREIGN
FORCE (PAR 231-12B(5), REF B).
3. SINCE AWARD OF PURPLE HEART IS MADE BY CNO OR
CMC UNDER AUTHORITY DELEGATED BY SECNAV, REQUEST
CONCLUSIONS OF PAR 2 ABOVE BE CONFIRMED TO PERMIT
EARLIEST POSSIBLE INITIATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
AWARDS IN APPROPRIATE CASES.
4. SUGGEST THAT FAILURE TO AWARD PURPLE HEARTS
COULD LATER BECOME KNOWN TO PRESS AND COULD
GENERATE UNWELCOME PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF PROCEDURES
WHICH COULD BE INTERPRETED AS DISCRIMINATING NOT ONLY
AGAINST THE DEAD AND WOUNDED BUT AGAINST CASES OF
UNQUESTIONED HEROISM IN ACTION WHICH ARE ONLY NOW
BEGINNING TO BECOME KNOWN.
GP-4
BT

Message subject lineage:

171611Z JUN 67 CNO
191610Z JUN 67 CINCUSNAVEUR
081600Z JUL 67 CNO

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