57 years since the deadly attack on the USS Liberty

NORFOLK, Virginia – It was one of the darkest days in the history of the U.S. Navy.

57 years ago this week, Israel attacked the unarmed American research vessel USS Liberty for reasons that are still not fully understood.

Nevertheless, it has become a forgotten chapter of naval history.

On June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israeli jets and torpedo boats launched an attack on the Liberty without warning, killing 34 crew members and injuring 171 others.

Both the Israeli and U.S. governments later conducted investigations and published reports concluding that the attack was a mistake.

“This was no accident,” said former Liberty sailor Terry McFarland. “And the government wants us all to die so they don’t have to deal with the USS Liberty and the Liberty Veterans Association anymore and they can just bury it. So it never sees the light of day again.”

McFarland and fellow Liberty veteran Jim Smith hope to begin setting the record straight this weekend when the USS Liberty Veterans Association dedicates a memorial at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4809 in Norfolk.

Smith hopes the public will come along and learn something.

“They haven’t learned much in 57 years, so there’s still hope that maybe they will learn, that they can learn. And that we can teach them,” he said.

The ceremony will take place on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Despite the ongoing questions, the Naval History and Heritage Command points out on its website that “the heroism of the crew in saving their ship and many shipmates has never been disputed.”