CTO SeaDogs
Dedicated to the Crew of the USS Liberty (AGTR-5)
Dedicated to the memory of thirty-four fine young men who gave their lives on June 8, 1967, defending the USS Liberty against a sustained air and sea attack by the armed forces of the State of Israel.
During the Six Day War between Israel and the Arab States, the American intelligence ship USS Liberty was attacked for 75 minutes in international waters by Israeli aircraft and motor torpedo boats. Thirty-four men died and 172 were wounded. Source
In Memory of the 26 Naval Security Group Men that Died Aboard the USS Liberty (AGTR-5), June 8, 1967.
Eyewitness Account
From CTT1 Ron Kukal (Active Duty: September, 1959 - August, 1967)
Most of these men were "O" Branchers. The torpedo that exploded about thirty feet from the "T" Branch spaces, wiped out our "O" Branch Section. Many of them were there because it happened during the day watch. I personally helped recover and identify these men, and in respect for their families I will not go into what this involved. I asked Senior Chief Hester to please put this on the CTO SeaDogs WebSite, so that all "O" Branchers might see it. These men were my brothers, each and every one, and although there was plenty of harassement between branches, we were very close. I salute each and every one of them.
Some were "M" Branchers and some were civilians but the memory of that day will never pass from my mind. We were all locked down tight waiting for the torpedo to hit and I suppose hoping that our compartment would escape whatever the torpedo had in store. We did not, and the compartment I was in immediately filled with water.
Not twenty feet away these men never knew what hit them. God bless them all and their families. They served your country well and with honor. May this serve as a reminder to all that follow in our footsteps. One never knows who ones enemy is, and a surprise attack is the most devastating of all.
Ronald G. Kukal
Survivor of the attack on the USS Liberty
June 8, 1967.
Sheridan, WY 82801
E-Mail
The 26 NAVSECGRU personnel who died in the Naval Security Group (Intelligence) Department spaces.
LT James Cecil Pierce, USN
CT3 William Bernard Allenbaugh, USN
CT2 Allen Merle Blue, USNR-R (Serving as a civilian for NSA)
CT2 Ronnie Jordon Campbell, USN
CT2 Jerry Leroy Converse, USN
CT2 Robert Burton Eisenberg, USN
CT2 Jerry Lee Goss, USNR
CT1 Curtis Alan Graves, USN
CTSN Lawrence Paul Hayden, USN
CT1 Warren Edward Hersey, USN
CT3 Alan (NMN) Higgins, USN,
CT2 Richard Walter Keene, Jr., USN
CTSN James Lee Lenau, USN
CTC Raymond Eugene Linn, USN
CT1 James Mahlon Lupton, USN
CT3 Duane Rowe Marggraf, USN
CTSN David Walter Marlborough, USN
CT2 Anthony Peter Mendle, USN
CTSN Carl Christian Nygren, USN
SGT Jack Lewis Raper, USMC
CPL Edward Emory Rehmeyer, III, USMC
CT1 John Caleb Smith, Jr., USN
CTC Melvin Douglas Smith, USN
CT3 Thomas Ray Thornton, USN
CT3 Philippe Charles Tiedtke, USN
CT1 Frederick James Walton, USN
Complete Casualty List (with details of service, burial & survivors)
Learn more about the USS Liberty Incident by clicking on these links:
USS Liberty Memorial
USS Liberty Official Site
USS Liberty Images
USS Liberty Files Archive
USS Liberty Links (most comprehensive on the web)
USS Liberty Declassified Documents on NSA.gov
