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1304Z 30 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe to
Chief of Naval Operations

R 301304Z JUN 67
FM CINCUSNAVEUR
TO CNO
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION; RECOMMENDATION FOR (U)
A. SECNAVINST 1650.1C
1. IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF A, I RECOMMEND THAT THE USS LIBERTY
(AGTR 5) BE AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION.
2. THE USS LIBERTY WAS SUBJECTED TO AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON
8 JUNE 1967 BY BOTH AIRCRAFT AND MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS WHILE
OPERATING IN THE INTERNATIONAL WATERS OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
ENSURING RELIABLE COMMUNICATIONS RELAY FROM THREATENED U.S.
DIPLOMATIC POSTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST FROM WHICH MASS EVACUATION OF
U.S. NATIONALS MIGHT BECOME URGENT.
3. DURING THE COURSE OF THESE ATTACKS, THE LIBERTY RECEIVED MAJOR
TOPSIDE DAMAGE FROM ATTACKING AIRCRAFT AND HEAVY HULL DAMAGE AS A
RESULT OF A TORPEDO HIT.
4. DURING THE INITIAL AIR ATTACK, WHICH CAME WITHOUT WARNING, THE
SHIP SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE PERSONNEL AND MATERIAL CASUALTIES.
THE SHIP'S RADAR, MOST EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS, ALL LIFE RAFTS, AND
MOST OF THE SHIP'S BOATS WERE LOST DUE TO DAMAGE RECEIVED DURING THIS
AIR ATTACK. THE TOPSIDE AREAS RECEIVED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FROM THE
AIRCRAFT CANNON AND MACHINE GUN ATTACKS, INCLUDING A GASOLINE FLASH
FIRE ON THE PORT SIDE, AMIDSHIPS.
5. THE MOTOR TORPEDO ATTACKS RESULTED IN THE SHIP TAKING ONE
TORPEDO AT ABOUT FRAME 60. THIS HIT CAUSED MAJOR HULL DAMAGE BETWEEN
FRAMES 52 AND 78, LOSS OF SHIP CONTROL SYSTEMS FROM THE BRIDGE, LOSS
OF MOST ELECTRICAL AND INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, AND THE LOSS OF
LIVES OF PERSONNEL TRAPPED BELOW DECKS BY THE EXPLOSION AND RESULTING
FLOODING.
6. THE CREW HEROICALLY FOUGHT THEIR SHIP FOUGHT TO CONTROL THE
DAMAGE INFLICTED DURING THIS AIR AND SURFACE ATTACK. THE FOUR
50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNS WERE MANNED AND THE ATTACKING FORCES TAKEN UNDER
FIRE.
7. ALTHOUGH ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE CREW WERE KILLED OR WOUNDED,
THOSE SURVIVING THE ATTACKS DISPLAYED OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL
KNOWLEDGE, UNDAUNTED SPIRIT AND EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM, THUS
ENABLING THE USS LIBERTY (AGTR 5) TO REACH PORT SAFELY AFTER
STEAMING ONE THOUSAND MILES WITH CRITICAL DAMAGE WHICH WOULD HAVE
SENT MOST SHIPS OF HER TYPE TO THE BOTTOM. AS A RESULT OF THE
CREW'S HEROIC CONDUCT, OUTSTANDING SKILL, AND FEARLESS DEVOTION TO
DUTY, THE USS LIBERTY (AGTR 5) SURVIVED THAT ATTACK, AND THE DAMAGE,
AND SAFELY RETURNED TO PORT.
8. THE FACTS REPORTED HEREIN ARE DERIVED FROM THE REPORT OF A COURT
OF INQUIRY.
GP-4
BT

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