by James Scott
Arthur Goldberg: Avraham Harman telegram 607 to the Foreign Ministry, June 16, 1967, 4079/HZ-26.
“clear proof”: Ephraim Evron telegram 193 to the Foreign Ministry, June 13, 1967, 4079/HZ-26.
“Israeli combat orders”: Avraham Harman telegram 245 to the Foreign Ministry, June 15, 1967, 5986/HZ-4, ISA.
Harman told Fortas: Ibid.
“a significant difference”: Ephraim Evron telegram 193 to the Foreign Ministry, June 13, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
Ginsburg advised: Ibid.
“guerrilla war”: Ibid.
“very careful”: Avraham Harman telegram 607 to the Foreign Ministry, June 16, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
“In light of”: Avraham Harman telegram 200 to the Foreign Ministry, June 13, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
CHAPTER 14
His loss: William McGonagle letter to J. C. Toth, June 17, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
McGonagle closed the shutters: Patrick O’Malley interview with author, Nov. 26, 2007; Richard Kiepfer interview with author, Aug. 16, 2008.
Teams of Maltese shipfitters: Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, June 17, 1967.
“Damn, the noise”: Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, June 23, 1967.
“Blast injury to brain”: untitled handwritten notes, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“When the torpedo exploded”: Chronological Record of Medical Care, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“engulfed in flames”: William McGonagle letter to W. Brown, June 18, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“It is with profound”: William McGonagle letter to Sherry Raper, June 18, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“He was given”: William McGonagle letter to F. C. Blanchard, June 18, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“I was wrong about you”: Patrick O’Malley interview with author, Nov. 26, 2007.
“agile mind and sparkling manner”: William McGonagle letter to J. H. Hayden, June 18, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“contagious enthusiasm”: William McGonagle letter to W. J. Marlborough, June 18, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“outstanding pride”: William McGonagle letter to Gail Thompson, June 18, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“competent caterer”: William McGonagle letter to J. C. Toth, June 17, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“unselfishly let the praise”: Ibid.
“Words alone”: William McGonagle letter to Weetie Armstrong, June 13, 1967, Box 3, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
“The ship was in international waters”: Ibid. McGonagle used the same description in all of his letters.
“May God in His”: Ibid.
The White House would mail: James U. Cross, Around the World with LBJ: My Wild Ride as Air Force One Pilot, White House Aide, and Personal Confidant (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2008), pp. 77–81; James Cross interview with author, April 29, 2008.
“The attached condolence letters”: James Cross memo to Harry McPherson, Jr., June 20, 1967, Box 42, Office Files of White House Aides, Office Files of Harry McPherson, Jr., LBJL.
“It is my”: Harry McPherson, Jr., memo to James Cross, June 26, 1967, ibid.
The deck force unpacked: Dave Lucas’s journal.
Scores of letters: Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, June 20, 1967.
“All our wounded”: John Scott letter to parents, June 19, 1967.
Less than a week: “New Duty for 59 of ‘Liberty,’” Virginian-Pilot, June 24, 1967, p. 4.
“Almost all of the Research people”: Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, June 20, 1967.
Others visited catacombs: Details of crew life in Malta are drawn from Dave Lucas letters to Paula Lucas, July 13, 1967, June 18, 1967, June 28, 1967, and June 25, 1967.
Scott and Painter: John Scott interview with author, July 21, 2008.
Dr. Kiepfer rented: Richard Kiepfer interview with author, Aug. 16, 2008.
The ship’s projector: Dave Lucas letters to Paula Lucas, June 22, 1967, June 24, 1967, and July 7, 1967.
“I just finished counseling”: Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, June 17, 1967.
“I’m O.K.”: Don Pageler postcard to parents, June 16, 1967.
“Please don’t worry”: Dale Larkins letter to parents, June 15, 1967.
“I guess the delayed grief”: Ruth Scott letter to John Scott, July 4, 1967.
“must be a sad place”: Ruth Scott letter to John Scott, June 15, 1967.
“it’s still a great joy”: Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, June 23, 1967.
“I remember just sitting”: Patrick O’Malley interview with author, Nov. 26, 2007.
Scott, Lucas, and Painter: John Scott memo to William McGonagle, June 23, 1967, Box 5, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA; Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, June 23, 1967.
“It’s just not right”: Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, June 26, 1967.
He bought his officers: Dave Lucas letter to Paula Lucas, July 7, 1967.
“The Capt. has changed”: Dave Lucas letter to parents, July 2, 1967.
“Sure hope we will”: William McGonagle letter to Mackie McGonagle, June 20, 1967, Box 4, William Loren McGonagle Papers, 1947–99, HIA.
CHAPTER 15
Did 34 Americans die: “Navy Must Explain Order Delay,” editorial, Plain Dealer, June 30, 1967, p. 16.
Ron’s family: Cristol, The Liberty Incident, p. 165.
A South Dakota native: Ernest Castle interview with author, Feb. 20, 2007; Lynn Blasch interview with author, Nov. 13, 2007.
He relayed: Ernest Castle interview with author, March 28, 2007.
The only promising: Edward Gibson Lanpher oral history interview with Charles Stuart Kennedy, June 25, 2002, Front Diplomacy: The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
“From information available”: USDAO TEL AVIV ISRAEL msg. 151615Z, June 1967, Liberty court of inquiry.
Rabin aide: USDAO TEL AVIV ISRAEL msg. 181030Z, June 1967, Liberty court of inquiry.
Ron’s probe concluded: Ibid.; Colonel Ram Ron report to Yitzhak Rabin, June 16, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
“appearance of surprise and incredulity”: USDAO TEL AVIV ISRAEL msg. 181030Z, June 1967, Liberty court of inquiry.
“no goddamn sense at all”: Ephraim Evron telegram 304 to the Foreign Ministry, June 19, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
The veteran officer: Mayo A. Hadden, Jr., biography; Mayo A. Hadden III interview with author, May 6, 2008.
“report blandly glosses over”: Mayo A. Hadden, Jr., Memorandum for the Record, June 19, 1967, Box 111, Liberty Briefing Book, Immediate Office Files of the CNO, Operational Archives Branch, NHC.
“public clash”: Ephraim Evron telegram 272 to the Foreign Ministry, June 16, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA; Townsend Hoopes memo to Nicholas Katzenbach and Paul H. Nitze, June 19, 1967, Box 111, Liberty Briefing Book, Immediate Office Files of the CNO, Operational Archives Branch, NHC.
“had made grievous errors”: Mayo A. Hadden, Jr., Memorandum for the Record, June 19, 1967, Box 111, Liberty Briefing Book, Immediate Office Files of the CNO, Operational Archives Branch, NHC.
“Such benefit”: Jerome H. King, Jr., memo to David L. McDonald, June 19, 1967, Box 111, Liberty Briefing Book, Immediate Office Files of the CNO, Operational Archives Branch, NHC.
“The American press”: Avraham Harman telegram 285 to the Foreign Ministry, June 18, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
“There is no doubt”: Ibid.
“I have no doubt”: Avraham Harman telegram 705 to the Foreign Ministry, June 19, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
“We should also”: Ibid.
Harman questioned: Avraham Harman
telegram 707 to the Foreign Ministry, June 19, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
“Ron’s investigation”: Avraham Harman telegram 305 to the Foreign Ministry, June 19, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
Ron’s report: Colonel Ram Ron report to Yitzhak Rabin, June 16, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
Israel in fact discovered: Information here comes from Colonel Ram Ron report to Yitzhak Rabin, June 16, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA; Attack on the Liberty, directed by Rex Bloomstein, Thames Television, 1987; Israel Defense Forces History Department, “The Attack on the ‘Liberty’ Incident, 8 June, 1967,” June 1982, pp. 7–8, IDF Archives.
“What is it?”: Israeli historian Ahron Bregman published excerpts of the attackers’ communications in his books Israel’s Wars: A History Since 1947 (New York: Routledge, 2002, pp. 88–90) and A History of Israel (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003, pp. 120–22). The Jerusalem Post later published a transcript of the communications, but with slight variations (Arieh O’Sullivan, “Liberty Revisited: The Attack,” Jerusalem Post, June 4, 2004, p. 20). To assist this author, Bregman graciously listened to the tapes again. He confirmed his translations in e-mails on Oct. 3, 2007. To create this scene, I used both Bregman and the Jerusalem Post as sources. When faced with differences between them, I often deferred to Bregman.
seated just a few feet: Cristol, The Liberty Incident, p. 42.
More than twenty minutes: Exact times are difficult to pinpoint given the chaotic nature of combat. The air controller’s statement that he believed the ship was American came at 2:14 P.M., according to the transcript of the recording published in the Jerusalem Post. The Liberty’s deck log recorded the torpedo strike at 2:35 P.M., twenty-one minutes after the identification. Colonel Ram Ron’s report determined that the torpedo attack occurred at 2:40 P.M., twenty-six minutes after the identification. Lieutenant Colonel Yeshayahu Yerushalmi’s follow-up report concluded that the torpedo attack occurred at 2:36 P.M., twenty-two minutes after pilots identified the Liberty.
“At that point in time”: Attack on the Liberty. Shmuel Kislev declined an interview request from this author.
Ron’s report also revealed: The officers were Commander Avraham Lunz in Haifa and Lieutenant Commander Pinchas Pinchasi in Tel Aviv. Lunz declined an interview request from this author. Pinchasi could not be located.
“was camouflage writing”: Colonel Ram Ron report to Yitzhak Rabin, June 16, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA. This author interviewed Yitzhak Rahav in Israel on Oct. 12, 2007. During the interview, Rahav denied testifying in the Israeli court of inquiry or being interviewed by Ron. “I never gave any evidence,” Rahav said. “Never.” Despite his assertion, Rahav is listed as No. 5 on the witness list.
“when he determined”: Avraham Harman telegram 707 to the Foreign Ministry, June 19, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
“military prosecutor insisted”: Avraham Harman telegram 305 to the Foreign Ministry, June 19, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
“This matter has turned”: Ibid.
“It is difficult”: Avraham Harman telegram 323 to the Foreign Ministry, June 20, 1967, 4079/HZ-26, ISA.
“In the severe situation”: Ibid.
Rather than indict: IDF Spokesman Announcement, 4079/HZ-27, ISA; Harold H. Saunders memo to Walt Rostow and McGeorge Bundy, June 20, 1967, Box 3, National Security File, Files of the Special Committee of the NSC, LBJL.
“Israeli Judge Advocate General”: Nicholas Katzenbach telegram 214682 to the American Embassy in Tel Aviv, June 22, 1967, Box 4, National Security File, Files of the Special Committee of the NSC, LBJL.
The NSA’s second in command: Background on Tordella is drawn from Kahn, The Codebreakers, p. 705; Robert McG. Thomas, Jr., “Louis W. Tordella, 84, Who Helped Break German Military Code in World War II,” New York Times, Jan. 16, 1996, p. B8; Juanita Moody interview with author, Nov. 21, 2007; and Benson Buffham interview with author, Nov. 20, 2007.
“I wryly mentioned”: Louis W. Tordella Memorandum for the Record, June 20, 1967, www.nsa.gov. Tordella remained outraged over the attack on the Liberty for years, convinced that it was no accident. In an interview with this author on Feb. 26, 2007, former NSA director Bobby Ray Inman said Tordella visited him soon after Inman took over as head of the agency in 1977. Tordella, who by then had retired from the NSA, shared his views on the Liberty. Inman said Tordella believed Israel had learned a lesson from the 1956 Suez Canal Crisis when the United States pressured the Jewish state to withdraw from captured territories. “His view was that they didn’t want to run a risk that we would detect exactly what they were going to do and try to bring it to a halt with a lot of pressure before they achieved their objectives,” Inman said. “They knew exactly what the ship was and what it was doing and therefore it was, in his view, a deliberate act to try to protect the plans until they finished what they were going to do.”
“If they are speaking Arabic”: DIRNSA msg. 221454Z, June 1967, www.nsa.gov.
Under the question: “Fact Sheet for DIRNSA,” www.nsa.gov.
Information the agency: Edward Koczak interview with author, Jan. 5, 2009.
The NSA director: Bruce Lambert, “Marshall Carter, 83, Intelligence Official and Marshall Aide,” New York Times, Feb. 20, 1993, p. 48.
“It couldn’t be anything else”: Marshall S. Carter oral history interview with Robert D. Farley, Oct. 3, 1988, www.nsa.gov.
“Cy Vance just told me”: Gerard Burke interview with author, Oct. 4, 2007.
“Just looking at the damage”: Allan Deprey interview with author, Nov. 25, 2007.
“We knew it was deliberate”: Oliver Kirby interview with author, Feb. 25, 2007.
“We just couldn’t believe that”: John Morrison interview with author, April 6, 2007.
“an extraordinary lack of concern”: Thomas Hughes memo to Nicholas Katzenbach, June 13, 1967, in Schwar, Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, pp. 474–76.
“stretched all credibility”: Thomas Hughes interview with author, May 3, 2007.
“We were quite convinced”: Thomas Hughes interview with author, April 26, 2007.
“It wasn’t an accident”: William McAfee interview with the author, May 3, 2007.
“They knew damn well”: Granville Austin interview with author, Oct. 3, 2007.
“Our reports were devastating”: William D. Wolle oral history interview with Charles Stuart Kennedy, March 6, 1991, Front Diplomacy: The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; William D. Wolle interview with author, Dec. 18, 2007.
“leave little doubt”: Intelligence Memorandum: The Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty, June 13, 1967, www.cia.gov.
“not made in malice”: Intelligence Memorandum: The Israeli Statement on the Attack on the USS Liberty, June 21, 1967, www.cia.gov.
William Dale: William Dale interview with author, March 27, 2007.
“The Israelis are very”: Heywood Stackhouse interview with author, May 15, 2008.
“Although Israeli authorities”: Robert M. Hathaway and Russell Jack Smith, Richard Helms: As Director of Central Intelligence, 1996–1973 (Washington, D.C.: Center for Study of Intelligence/Central Intelligence Agency, 1993), pp. 145–46.
Vice Admiral Rufus Taylor: “Vice Adm. Rufus Taylor, Retired CIA Deputy, Dies,” Washington Post, Sept. 20, 1978, p. B8.
“To me, the picture”: Rufus Taylor memo to Richard Helms, June 22, 1967, in Hathaway and Smith, Richard Helms, p. 146.
Several agency field memos: CIA Intelligence Information Cable, Turkish General Staff Opinion Regarding the Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty, June 23, 1967; CIA Information Report, [Redacted] Comment on Known Identity of USS Liberty, July 27, 1967; CIA Information Report, Prospects for Political Ambitions of Moshe Dayan/Attack on USS Liberty Ordered by Dayan, Nov. 9, 1967.
“I don’t think there”: Richard Helms oral history interview with Robert M. Hathaway, Nov. 8, 1984, www.cia.gov.
CHAPTER 16
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sp; There was a suspicious: Lucius Battle interview with author, Nov. 7, 2006.
Staring had served: Merlin Staring interviews with author, April 17, 2007, and April 25, 2007; Merlin Staring official Navy biography.
The top-secret volume: Liberty court of inquiry.
“The number one paragraph”: Merlin Staring interview with author, April 17, 2007.
“The evidence was clear”: Ward Boston, Jr., affidavit, Jan. 8, 2004. Democratic representative John Conyers, Jr., of Michigan inserted a copy of Boston’s affidavit in the Congressional Record on Oct. 11, 2004.
“That was deliberate”: Joseph C. Wylie, Jr., oral history interview with Evelyn M. Cherpak, Jan. 22, 1986, Naval War College Library, Newport, R.I.
“I have some real”: Merlin Staring interview with author, April 17, 2007.
Court President: Ward Boston, Jr., interview with author, Oct. 11, 2006.
The former secretary: “2 Pentagon Aides Sworn to Posts,” New York Times, July 6, 1962, p. 7; “Vance’s Promotion Approved by Senate,” New York Times, Jan. 28, 1964, p. 19.
spoke in the same: Russell Jack Smith, The Unknown CIA: My Three Decades with the Agency (Washington, D.C.: Pergamon-Brassey’s International Defense Publishers, Inc., 1989), p. 184.
dirty jobs: Thomas Hughes interviews with author, May 3, 2007, and Jan. 4, 2009.
The Pentagon’s fourteen-page: Draft press release, Box 112, Liberty Press Releases, Immediate Office Files of the CNO, Operational Archives Branch, NHC.
“strong Navy non-concurrence”: Mayo A. Hadden, Jr., memorandum to distribution list, June 22, 1967, Box 112, Liberty Press Releases, Immediate Office File of the CNO, Operational Archives Branch, NHC.
McNamara and his civilian analysts: Information on McNamara’s leadership comes from David L. McDonald oral history interview with John T. Mason, Jr., Jan. 24, 1976, U.S. Naval Institute; David C. Richardson oral history interview with Paul Stillwell, March 30, 1992, U.S. Naval Institute; Horacio Rivero, Jr., oral history interview with John T. Mason, Jr., Nov. 12, 1975, U.S. Naval Institute; Thomas H. Moorer oral history interviews with John T. Mason, Jr., Feb. 21, 1975, and April 11, 1975, U.S. Naval Institute.
McDonald knew to keep: Information on David McDonald comes from David L. McDonald oral history interview with John T. Mason, Jr., Nov. 8, 1974, U.S. Naval Institute; Herbert E. Hetu oral history interview with Paul Stillwell, June 5, 1996, U.S. Naval Institute; “Persuasive Admiral,” New York Times, May 7, 1963, p. 22; “Stormy Days for the Navy,” Time, Nov. 15, 1963, p. 37; Jerome King, Jr., interview with author, Feb. 6, 2008.