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1306Z 30 June 1967 transmitted message text from
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe to
Chief of Naval Operations

R 301306Z JUN 67
FM CINCUSNAVEUR
TO CNO
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L
CDR WILLIAM L. MCGONGLE, USN/RECOMMENDATION FOR MEDAL OF HONOR
A. SECNAVINST 1650.1C
1. IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF A. I RECOMMEND THAT CDR WILLIAM L.
MCGONAGLE, USN, 494467/1100, ATTACHED TO AND SERVING WITH THE
USS LIBERTY (AGTR 5), BE AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR.
2. CDR MCGONAGLE WAS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE USS LIBERTY
WHEN IT WAS SUBJECT TO AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK ON 8 JUNE 1967 BY
BOTH AIRCRAFT AND MOTOR BOATS WHILE OPERATING IN THE
INTERNATIONAL WATERS OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ENSURING
RELIABLE COMMUNICATIONS RELAY FROM THREATENED U.S. 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, CDR MC GONAGLE, WHILE ON THE
BRIDGE, WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN THE LEGS BY STRAFING. IN SPITE
OF HIS WOUNDS CDR MC GONAGLE DISPLAYED CONSPICIOUS GALLANTRY AND
INTREPIDITY, REFUSING TREATMENT AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE, AND
BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY, CDR MC GONAGLE REMAINED ON THE BRIDGE
THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND ENSURING NIGHT UNTIL A U.S.S. DESTROYER
ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. DURING THIS ENTIRE
PERIOD CDR MC GONAGLE CONTINUED TO EXERCISE COMMAND, DIRECTED THE
DEFENSE OF HIS SHIP, AND SUPERVISED CONTROL OF THE VERY EXTENSIVE
FLOODING OF THE LOWER DECK SPACES. AT THE SAME TIME, CDR MCGONAGLE
CONTINUED TO CON THE SHIP ON HIS BACK WITH HIS LEGS IN THE AIR TO
MINIMIZE BLEEDING. HIS HEROIC ACTIONS WERE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR
SAVING MANY LIVES AND FOR SAVING HIS SHIP. WHICH, CONSIDERING THE
DAMAGE INFLICTED UPON HER, WOULD UNDER LESS SKILLFUL HANDS, PROBABLY
HAVE BEEN LOST.
5. THE FACTS AS CONTAINED IN THE PROPOSED CITATION ARE DERIVED FROM
THE REPORT OF A COURT OF INQUIRY.
6. CDR MCGONAGLE'S SERVICE RECORD IS NOT HELD BY THIS COMMAND,
THEREFORE, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT PREVIOUS DECORATIONS, IF ANY,
CDR MCGONAGLE MAY HAVE BEEN AWARDED.
7. THE ESTIMATED DATE OF DETACHMENT FROM PRESENT ASSIGNMENT IS
UNKNOWN.
8. PROPOSED CITATION:
   "FOR CONSPICIOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN COMBAT WITH THE
ENEMY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
WHILE SERVING AS COMMANDING OFFICER, USS LIBERTY (AGTR 5), IN THE
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, ON 8 JUNE 1967. THE LIBERTY WAS SUBJECTED
TO AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK BY BOTH AIRCRAFT AND MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS WHICH
INFLICTED EXTREMELY HEAVY CASUALTIES AND MATERIAL DAMAGE. ALTHOUGH
WOUNDED IN BOTH LEGS DURING THE INITIAL AIR ATTACK, CDR MCGONAGLE
REFUSED TO LEAVE HIS STATION ON THE BRIDGE. WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE
OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF HIS WOUNDS AND WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HIS
PERSONAL SAFETY OR LIFE, CDR MC GONAGLE, REFUSING TREATMENT, CALMLY
CONTINUED TO EXERCISE COMMAND, DIRECTING THE DEFENSE OF HIS SHIP,
THE CONTROL OF DAMAGE DUE TO FLOODING, AND CONTINUED THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE DAY AND ENSUING NIGHT TO CON THE SHIP ON HIS BACK WITH
HIS LEGS IN THE AIR TO MINIMIZE BLEEDING. ONLY WHEN A U.S.
DESTROYER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE TO ASSIST DID CDR MC GONAGLE PERMIT
HIMSELF TO BE REMOVED FROM THE BRIDGE FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. HIS
VALIANT LEADERSHIP AND COURAGEOUS FIGHTING SPIRIT SERVED TO INSPIRE
THE MEN OF HIS SHIP TO HEROIC ENDEAVORS IN KEEPING THE SHIP AFLOAT
WITH A SAVING OF MANY LIVES, AND REFLECT HIGHEST CREDIT UPON THE
UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE."
GP-4
BT

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