|
|
|
|
|
|
|
News Headline |
|
|
|
|
The USS Liberty Attack is a controversial incident that occurred on June 8, 1967. The attack occurred during the Six-Day War between Israel and a 5-nation alliance of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. That war had its beginnings in several events, including the restriction of shipping routes in the Straits of Tiran (a passage between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea), an attempted diversion of Israeli water supplies by Jordan and Syria, and military incursions into Jordanian territory by Israel.
After months of minor clashes, Egypt and Jordan signed a military agreement with the stated purpose of destroying Israel. The region erupted into full-blown war on June 5, 1967 when Israel launched a preliminary attack on Egyptian air bases. Over the course of six days, Israel soundly defeated all opposing armies, capturing large territories, some of which remain under Israeli control to this day, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
During the course of the war, the USS Liberty was serving as an intelligence ship in the Mediterranean Sea, about 12.5 miles from land. Around 2 p.m., Israeli aircraft attacked the ship. Reports and recordings indicate that the pilots attacked the ship believing that it was Egyptian, not American. The attack stopped after a pilot noticed that the ship had Western, not Arabic lettering. Unsure of the language, the Israelis sent in three torpedo boats to investigate.
In the confusion, however, the crew of the Liberty opened fire on three torpedo boats that appeared to be in attack formation. The boats returned fire and launched torpedoes. Upon identification of the Liberty as an American ship, the Israeli torpedo boats ceased fire and offered assistance, which the Liberty refused. The crew kept her afloat and the Liberty returned to Malta for repairs under her own power. 34 U.S. Servicemen were killed and 173 were wounded in the attack.
There is 1 name on the war memorial from the USS Liberty Attack.
|
All Names
|
| Return to War Memorial |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|