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2254Z 17 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander, Sixth Fleet to Sixth Fleet

R 172254Z JUN 67
FM COMSIXTHFLT
TO SIXTHFLT
BT
UNCLAS E F T O
1. IN RESPONSE TO THE ARAB-ISRAELI WAR, THE SIXTHFLT HAS BEEN KEPT
AT A HIGH STATE OF READINESS FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS. YOU HAVE BEEN
PREPARED TO CARRY OUT ANY MISSION, EITHER HUMANITARIAN OR COMBAT,
THAT OUR GOVERNMENT MIGHT ASK US TO PERFORM. READINESS AND RESPONSES
HAS BEEN MOST GRATIFYING.
2. WHEN THE LIBERTY WAS ERRONEOUSLY ATTACKED, YOUR AIRCRAFT WERE
LAUNCHED IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS, FULLY ARMED AND PREPARED TO DEFEND
HER. YOUR GUN CREWS HAVE STOOD MANY LONG WATCHES AND IT HAS BEEN
REASSURING TO KNOW THAT AT ALL TIMES THEY WERE READY TO DEFEND THIS
FLEET. DESTROYER COMMANDING OFFICERS HAVE SHOWN COURAGE, SKILL AND
GOOD JUDGEMENT IN KEEPING THE RUDE SOVIET INTRUDERS FROM PEN-
ETRATING OUR FORMATIONS. MUCH OF OUR TIME HAS BEEN SPENT AT HIGH
SPEEDS AND I AM AWARE OF THE EXTRA HOURS THE ENGINEERS HAVE PUT IN
KEEPING THEIR PLANTS RUNNING. YOUR COMMUNICATIONS, BOTH VISUAL
AND RADIO, HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY ALERT, AND YOUR BRIDGE
WATCHES HAVE BEEN SMART IN EXECUTING SIGNALS. IN SHORT, ALL
ELEMENTS WERE READY, WILLING AND ABLE.
3. I HAVE GREATEST PRAISE FOR THE SIXTHFLT AND I AM VERY PROUD
OF EVERY MAN IN IT FOR THEIR HIGH PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE DURING
THESE PAST TRYING WEEKS. WELL DONE. VADM MARTIN.
BT