Previous attack didn’t get attention

I have read stories in The Herald of the honors and awards that were given to the members of the crew of the destroyer U.S.S. Cole that was badly damaged by terrorists in Yemen last year. It was a well-deserved honor for their heroic accomplishments.

My thoughts went back to June 8, 1967 during the Arab-Israeli war. A Navy intelligence ship the U.S.S. Liberty was bombed, napalmed, strafed and torpedoed in international waters, with the American flag flying, and during good visibility by our “favorite ally,” Israel.

Thirty-four sailors were killed and 171 injured. An SOS was picked up by the 6th Fleet’s Saratoga which launched planes, but was called back on orders from President Johnson. The ship did not sink, but it was a shambles. It was towed to the scrap heap. The crew was told to keep their mouths closed about the incident, and were scattered among other ships worldwide. No honors, or decorations for them. The captain received a medal at a private meeting with a defense department official.

I wrote a letter to a representative named John Miller of our state, asking for an investigation by Congress of this cowardly attack by Israel. His reply was that it was a case of mistaken identity by Israel, and furthermore the call for an investigation “smacked of anti-Semitism.”

It appears that there are “Sacred Cows” in our world which, right or wrong, must not be touched or spoken of.

Snohomish