Glossary | August Messages | Message Tables | U.S. Messages page

1900Z 15 August 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander, Sixth Fleet to Chief of Naval Operations

P 151900Z AUG 67
FM COMSIXTHFLT
TO CNO
INFO CINCUSNAVEUR
BT
S E C R E T SPECAT EXCLUSIVE FOR ADM RIVERO INFO ADM MCCAIN FROM
VADM MARTIN
USS LIBERTY
A. CNO 142059Z AUG 67 [not in file]
1. ON THE MORNING OF 8 JUNE 1967 COMSIXTHFLT CONFERRED WITH
CTF 60 AND KEY MEMBERS OF BOTH COMSIXTHFLT AND CTF 60 STAFFS
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRESENTATION TO BE GIVEN TO NEWSMEN
AT 081600B ABOARD USS AMERICA IN RESPONSE TO A SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE DIRECTIVE (SECDEF 080016Z JUNE 1967). THIS CONFERENCE
COMMENCED AT APPROXIMATELY 0400Z AND DID NOT ADJOURN UNTIL
ABOUT 0910Z. WHILE THIS CONFERENCE WAS IN PROGRESS, A MESSAGE
WAS DRAFTED BY THE SURFACE OPERATIONS OFFICER DIRECTING LIBERTY
TO CARRY OUT THE JCS/JRC MESSAGE DIRECTIVE. AFTER THE INITIAL
PROCESSING, THE DRAFTING OFFICER ELECTED TO NOT INTERRUPT THE
CONFERENCE WHICH WAS BEING PARTICIPATED IN BY COMSIXTHFLT, HIS
CHIEF OF STAFF, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF (OPS), AND THE
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF (OPS).
TO GAIN RELEASE OF THE SUBJECT MESSAGE. (THESE FOUR CONFERENCE
PARTICIPANTS ARE THE ONLY COMSIXTHFLT STAFF OFFICERS WHO POSSESS
RELEASE AUTHORITY FOR MESSAGES WHICH DIRECT SHIP MOVEMENTS).
WHEN THE CONFERENCE WAS COMPLETED THE MESSAGE WAS RELEASED. IN
HINDSIGHT IT IS READILY APPARENT THAT MOST PRESSING ITEM AT
HAND WAS THE LIBERTY MESSAGE AND THE DRAFTING OFFICER CONSIDERED
RELATIVE PRIORITIES WHEN ARRIVING AT HIS DECISION TO NOT INTERRUPT
A CONFERENCE CONVENED IN RESPONSE TO A SECDEF DIRECTIVE. THE
MESSAGE WAS RELEASED BY THE DCOS (OPS) IMMEDIATELY UPON HIS
RETURN TO HIS OFFICE AT 0913Z.
2. ACCORDINGLY, PARAGRAPH 30 OF THE RUSS REPORT WHICH IS QUOTED
IN REF A SHOULD BE REWORDED AS FOLLOWS TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT
THE CHAIN OF EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED ON 8 JUNE 1967 INCIDENT
TO THE USS LIBERTY SITUATION
QUOTE COMSIXTHFLT SURFACE OPERATIONS OFFICER PREPARED A
MESSAGE TO USS LIBERTY TO CARRY OUT THE JCS/JRC DIRECTIVE.
THIS WAS PROCESSED AND ULTIMATELY READY FOR PRESENTATION
TO THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF (OPS) FOR RELEASE BY 0630Z ON
8 JUNE. HOWEVER, COMSIXTHFLT WAS ENGAGED IN A CONFERENCE WITH
HIS CHIEF OR STAFF, THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF (OPS), AND
THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF (OPS)
IN PREPARATION FOR A SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DIRECTED PRESS CONFERENCE.
THE DRAFTING OFFICER DID NOT INTERRUPT THIS CONFERENCE TO GAIN
RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE. THE MESSAGE WAS RELEASED AT 0913Z
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE CONFERENCE. THE MESSAGE,
ALTHOUGH ASSIGNED IMMEDIATE PRECEDENCE, WAS NOT TRANSMITTED TO
NAVCOMMSTA MOROCCO FRO RELAY TO USS LIBERTY UNTIL 1035Z 8 JUNE
BECAUSE OF DELAYS INCIDENT TO TRANSMISSION OF OTHER EQUAL OR
HIGHER PRECEDENCE MESSAGES. USS LIBERTY DID NOT RECEIVE THIS
MESSAGE. UNQUOTE.
GP-1
BT

Glossary | August Messages | Message Tables | U.S. Messages page