This book was written by one of the US Naval officers aboard the Liberty at the time she was attacked by Israeli Jets and PT boats. The Liberty was a US navy intelligence ship in international waters 13 miles off the coast of Egypt on the 4th day of the 6 day Arab-Israeli war. On June 5, 1967 Israel began the war with a pre-emptive strike which virtually destroyed the Egyptian air force after Egypt mobilized military forces along the Israeli border. The USS Liberty was a 400 foot cargo vessel modified into a sophisticated intelligence gathering ship and was presumably monitoring the radio transmission of the participants in the war. The assault on the Liberty commenced at 13:58 on June 8 when an Israeli jet attacked her and her crew with rocket fire focused first on the ships communication equipment and bridge. The author reports that during the attacks by a series of jets, the Israelis attempted to jam the Liberty's radio transmitters presumably to prevent the ship's crew from transmitting distress signals. However, there were breaks in the jamming while the jets launched their rockets and the Liberty successfully transmitted a distress message to the US fleet. The attacks on the Liberty lasted and hour and 15 minutes and the jets not only attacked the ship with rocket fire but also napalm. Israeli PT boats joined in the attack and launched several torpedoes, one of which struck the starboard side of the Liberty nearly sinking her. In addition to the torpedoes, the PT boats circled the Liberty firing machine guns at her crew and along her waterline. When the Liberty launched her life rafts, the PT boat crew machine gunned the rafts.
Beginning at 0600, and during the 8 hours before the attack on the Liberty, Israeli aircraft conducted a series of 8 flights over and around the Liberty before commencing the attack. The Liberty was steaming at 5kts flew the US flag from her mast in a 12kt apparent wind. The Liberty was very clearly marked a a US naval ship.
34 of the men aboard the Liberty were killed and 170 injured. Ennes' book recounts in detail the valiant effort of the Liberty's crew which kept her from being sunk, and allowed the successful transmission of a distress call. Approximately two hours after the attack, Israel issued a apology for the attack claiming it was an accident.
The day before the attack, on June 7, Israel was implementing plans to invade Syria on June 8. At 0600 on the 8th, Israel first reconnoitered the Liberty as she steamed towards the Gaza strip. Israel ordered a 24 hour postponement of its invasion of the Golan heights. At 13:38 on June 8th the 1:15 hour long attack commenced. The Liberty was almost sunk and her ability to gather information destroyed. On June 9, Israel invaded Syria.
Mr. Ennes' book recounts in detail the events aboard and involving the USS Liberty during the days leading up to the attack and the curious suppression of facts subsequent to the attack. There is compelling personal insight into men who performed heroically aboard the Liberty. It is now almost 50 years after attack. The book was written approximately 40 years ago. It is more history now than news, but nevertheless important and provides valuable insight. The facts surrounding the Liberty strike me as relevant today as part of a sincere consideration of US foreign policy.
This first hand account by and on behalf of the men who experienced the attack is well worth reading.
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