What Governor Rick Scott Needs to Know About Senators Nelson, Rubio and the USS Liberty

Vice President of the USS Liberty Veterans Association Larry Bowen survived The Six Day War and discovered a ‘treatment’ for his posttraumatic stress is seeking to establish USS Remembrance Day in the minds of Governors and Congressional representatives.

By Eileen Fleming

In his first year as Vice President of the USS Liberty Veterans Association, Larry Bowen has met with many D.C. representatives of Congressmen and Senators including John Kennedy (LA); Patrick Toomey (PA); Mitch McConnell (KY); Michael Enzi (WY) and Marco Rubio (FL), seeking their patriotic assistance in ending the now 51 year USA Government cover-up of Israel’s 8 June 1967 attack on America’s then premier spy-ship the USS Liberty as she navigated in international waters during The Six Day War.

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As a Florida constituent and member of the grassroots “We Americans and the USS Liberty”I began seeking meetings with Senators Nelson and Rubio’s Orlando representatives regarding the USS Liberty shortly after learning about the cover-up in 2007 in hope they would respond patriotically by supporting the establishment of every June 8 to be known as USS LIBERTY REMEMBRANCE DAY in the hearts and minds of Americans.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mahZ2IOXAeo&t=1499s

 

Back in the day when Senators Nelson and Rubio shared the same downtown Orlando office building, I met with each of their local representatives and both promised they would forward my USS Liberty information and petition seeking the establishment of an annual June 8 USS Liberty Remembrance Day to D.C. for follow-up.

Despite my repeated email and phone call follow-ups through the years NO response has yet been received from either the Republican of Democratic senator’s office regarding the USS Liberty other than in emails comprised of AIPAC talking points and ignored my request for their assistance in establishing USS LIBERTY REMEMBRANCE DAY. 

InHonor of the 34 crewmen who were killed onboard the USS LIBERTY fifty-one years ago this June 8th their names are listed below the Florida USS Liberty Resolution provided by Larry Bowen, USS Liberty Veterans Associations Vice President who added:

 I do know that the resolutions in New York have all gone to the Department level in those veteran organizations. I also know that the one in Tennessee’s American Legion organization is now at the Department level for approval.  Both the Maryland Veterans organizations resolutions have made it to the Department Level for approval as well. I also heard today from my high school classmate in Colorado that she delivered the Colorado Resolutions to Ken Buck and Cory Gardner both from the 4^th District… 

Resolutions by State so far and YOU can contact Larry Bowen to get YOUR state involved via email: [email protected] 

New York (3) VFW, American Legion & Korean War Veterans

Maryland (2) VFW & Disabled American Veterans

West Virginia (1) General

Wyoming (1) General

South Carolina (1) General

Missouri (1) General

Tennessee (1) General (1) American Legion

Florida (1) General

Colorado (1) General

California (1) General

North Carolina (1) General

Minnesota (2) General

Washington (1) General

Oregon

Florida USS Liberty Resolution

Hereby submit a resolution to petition the Florida Legislature and the Governor to recognize the crew of the USS Liberty and the thirty-four servicemen killed by dedicating a memorial and establishing June 8^thas USS Liberty Day in Florida and that the Florida Congressional delegation submit national legislation to set aside June 8^theach year as USS Liberty Day and authorize the placement of a memorial within Washington DC.

Whereas, on June 8, 1967 the USS Liberty and her crew of 294 (including 3 civilians) was operating in international waters; and,

Whereas, in an unprovoked attack by Israeli war planes and torpedo boats resulted in the death of 34 Americans including one civilian and the wounding of 174 others; and,

Whereas, after sending out distress calls stating the ship was under attack and requires immediate assistance the attack continues for approximately 22 minutes involving 30 to 35 sorties and following the air attack three Israeli motor torpedo boats fire five torpedoes one of which strikes Liberty on the starboard side resulting in the deaths of twenty-five (25) of the thirty-four (34) men killed; and

Whereas, the crew of the USS Liberty fought valiantly to overcome the battle damage that included severe structural damage and save their ship often placing themselves in extremely hazardous situations in total disregard for their personal safety finally succeeding to reach port; and,

Whereas, due to the sensitive nature of the USS Liberty’s equipment and documents crew members still reeling from the attack with some having suffered wounds during the attack were tasked with entering the severely damaged area and recovering the bodies and body parts of their fellow shipmates; and,

Whereas, having suffered through the attack and subsequent recovery the crew was informed that under penalty of arrest, fines and imprisonment they were forbidden to speak about the incident which further compounded the effects of Post Traumatic Stress; and,

Whereas, because of unsupported statements by some U.S. Government officials that the attack was accidental, the Liberty survivors have been vilified in some quarters for over 50 years because they refuse to be part of the government’s cover-up; and,

Whereas, the USS Liberty is the most decorated Navy ship for a single engagement. To wit, Captain William McGonagle received the Medal of Honor, and the crew received 2 Navy Crosses (posthumously); 12 Silver Stars (3 posthumously); 26 Bronze Stars; 9 Navy Commendations; 208 Purple Hearts (34 killed in action); the Combat Action Ribbon; the Presidential Unit Citation; and,

Whereas, at its national convention in 2017, the American Legion adopted Resolution 40 calling upon the United States Congress “to publicly, impartially, and thoroughly investigate the attack on the USS Liberty and its aftermath; and,

Whereas, no memorial befitting the heroic actions of the crew of the USS Liberty has been established due in part to the incident being shrouded in controversy; now be it

Resolved, that concerned members of Florida constituency urge the Florida State Legislature to formally recognize the date June 8^thas USS Liberty Day now and forever and dedicate a memorial befitting the courage and dedication of the Liberty’s crew; and be it further

Resolved, that the Florida State Congressional delegation be hereby respectfully memorialized by the Florida State Legislative Body to pass legislation recognizing the date June 8^thnow and forever as USS Liberty Day and authorize the dedication of a memorial befitting the courage and dedication of the Liberty’s crew to be placed in Washington DC; and be it further,

Resolved, that the Florida USS Liberty Resolution reaffirms American Legion Resolution 40 and calls upon all members of Florida’s U.S. Congressional delegation to heed the resolution’s call for Congress “to publicly, impartially, and thoroughly, investigate the attack on the USS Liberty and its aftermath”; and,

Resolved, that this resolution is forwarded to Congress for its full support.

The 34 USS Liberty crewmen killed during The Six Day War 

LCDR Philip McCutcheon Armstrong, Jr., USN
Mortally wounded near the bridge attempting to extinguish large fire. Died about 4 hours later in battle dressing station

LT James Cecil Pierce, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces
while destroying registered publications

LT Stephen Spencer Toth, USN
Died 01 or 02 level, port side, of rocket fire

CT3 William Bernard Allenbaugh, USN

SN Gary Ray Blanchard, USN
Died on operating table 0315 June 9, 1967

CT2 Allen Merle Blue, USNR-R
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

QM3 Francis Brown, USN
Died on bridge while operating the helm

CT2 Ronnie Jordon Campbell
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT2 Jerry Leroy Converse, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT2 Robert Burton Eisenberg, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT2 Jerry Lee Goss, USNR
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT1 Curtis Alan Graves
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CTSN Lawrence Paul Hayden, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT1 Warren Edward Hersey, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT3 Alan (NMN) Higgins, USN

SN Carl Lewis Hoar, USN

CT2 Richard Walter Keene, Jr.
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CTSN James Lee Lenau, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces
in forward typewriter repair shop

CTC Raymond Eugene Linn, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT1 James Mahlon Lupton, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT3 Duane Rowe Marggraf, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CTSN David Walter Marlborough, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT2 Anthony Peter Mendle, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CTSN Carl Christian Nygren, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

SGT Jack Lewis Raper, USMC
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CPL Edward Emory Rehmeyer, III, USMC
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

ICFN David NMN Skolak, USN
Died in forward gun mount

CT1 John Caleb Smith, Jr., USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CTC Melvin Douglas Smith, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

PC2 John Clarence Spicher, USN
Hit with rocket on main deck, died receiving emergency aid

GMG3 Alexander Neil Thompson, Jr., USN
Died in forward gun mount

CT3 Thomas Ray Thornton, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT3 Philippe Charles Tiedtke, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

CT1 Frederick James Walton, USN
Died in Naval Security Group (intelligence) Department spaces

 

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Eileen Fleming, senior non-Arab correspondent writes for TADN

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Contact Eileen Fleming

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