Communications History 1967: USS Liberty Reunion

In June 1967, the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy technical research ship, was conducting a signals intelligence (SIGINT) mission in the eastern Mediterranean, leveraging advanced radio interception techniques rooted in military communications and the legacy of ham radio. Anchored in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula, the clearly marked vessel was gathering critical electronic communications during the Six-Day War. Ham radio operators and communications enthusiasts will recognize the Liberty’s sophisticated equipment and skilled crew—radiomen, cryptologists, technicians, linguists, and electronic intelligence specialists—as an extension of the amateur radio spirit, many of us began while serving in the military. On June 8, Israeli air and naval forces attacked without warning, killing 34 crew members, 25 of whom were communications and intelligence personnel from the Naval Security Group (NSG). The NSA-directed SIGINT compartment, housing these specialists, took a direct hit from an Israeli torpedo, devastating the heart of the ship’s communications operations. Based on declassified Navy records, survivor accounts, and research by the USS Liberty Veterans Association, this post explores the Liberty’s role in communications history, the attack’s toll, and the survivors’ enduring quest for truth, as highlighted by their 2025 reunion.

The USS Liberty’s Mission in 1967

The USS Liberty was a U.S. Navy technical research ship deployed in 1967 to gather intelligence by intercepting and analyzing electronic communications. During the Six-Day War in June 1967, its mission was to monitor communications in the eastern Mediterranean, particularly those related to the conflict between Israel and Arab states. Stationed in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula, the ship collected signals intelligence to provide the U.S. government with real-time information on military and diplomatic activities in the region.

Definition of Electronic Communications

Electronic communications refer to the transmission of information, such as voice, data, or signals, through electronic means, including radio waves, satellite, telephone, or other electromagnetic systems. In the context of the USS Liberty, this primarily involved intercepting radio transmissions, radar signals, and other electronic emissions from military and government sources, a task that echoed the skills of ham radio operators who pioneered radio interception techniques.

Importance of Electronic Communications

Intercepting electronic communications is critical for intelligence gathering because it allows access to real-time, often unfiltered information about an adversary’s or ally’s intentions, troop movements, and strategic plans. During the Six-Day War, this capability enabled the U.S. to monitor the rapidly evolving conflict, assess the actions of all parties involved, and inform national security decisions. Such intelligence helps prevent surprises, supports diplomatic efforts, and ensures situational awareness in volatile regions. The Liberty’s work built on the legacy of ham radio, where operators honed the art of capturing and decoding signals, a skill refined by the Navy’s cryptologic technicians.

What Stopped the USS Liberty from Carrying Out Its Mission

On June 8, 1967, Israeli air and naval forces attacked the USS Liberty, operating alone without escorts from the distant Sixth Fleet, killing 34 crew members, including 25 cryptologists and communications personnel, and wounding 171 others, while causing severe damage to the ship. Survivors report that Israeli torpedo boats machine-gunned clearly marked life rafts as the crew prepared to abandon ship, a wartime-like act of brutality that left cryptologists and radiomen trapped on a burning vessel. This ferocity, coupled with jammed distress signals and a direct torpedo hit on the NSA-directed SIGINT compartment, convinced survivors the attack was a state-sponsored effort to sink the ship and eliminate its crew, an exceptional assault on a neutral U.S. vessel in international waters.

This was the single deadliest day in U.S. cryptologic history, with the majority of those killed being Navy radiomen, cryptologic technicians, and NSA civilians working in the ship’s SIGINT compartment.

Why Israel Attacked a Ship in International Waters

The Israeli attack on the USS Liberty in 1967 remains one of the most controversial incidents in U.S. naval history. Survivors, researchers, and intelligence analysts argue that the assault was deliberate, intended to prevent the ship from intercepting sensitive Israeli communications—possibly related to the upcoming Golan Heights offensive. Despite the ship’s large U.S. flag and visible markings, Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats launched a sustained assault, killing 34 crew members and wounding over 170. Declassified NSA intercepts released in 2003 suggest Israeli forces may have been aware of the ship’s American identity, reinforcing survivor claims of a deliberate attack followed by a high-level cover-up. The episode continues to strain U.S.-Israel relations and fuel debate over accountability and suppressed evidence.

Declassified NSA transcripts released in 2003 suggest the Israeli pilots recognized the USS Liberty as American during the attack. According to intercepts gathered by a U.S. Navy listening aircraft, one Israeli pilot reportedly saw the American flag and radioed ground control for confirmation. The response from Israeli command: proceed with the attack. Although the original audio remains classified, these transcripts—supported by testimony from NSA personnel—have reinforced survivor claims that the attack was not a case of mistaken identity, but a deliberate strike followed by diplomatic suppression.

“We were flying our American flag and had clear markings. The attack was deliberate. Our own government abandoned us, and justice was denied.”
— Richard Carlson, USS Liberty survivor, Radioman

For the men aboard Liberty, the horror was personal and unforgettable. Survivors describe the attack as unprovoked and relentless—napalm, cannon fire, and torpedoes rained down despite frantic attempts to signal their American identity. Some believe they were left vulnerable by their own government, which downplayed the attack to preserve strategic alliances. Their testimonies, consistent across decades, form the backbone of the push for a new investigation—one that has never come despite repeated requests to Congress.

The USS Liberty Reunion in June 2025

The Liberty Veterans Association (LVA) held its 58th anniversary reunion from June 6-9, 2025, at the Sheraton Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, to honor the survivors and commemorate the 34 crew members killed in the 1967 attack. The event included a memorial service at the VFW Post 4809, which houses a USS Liberty monument, and focused on fellowship among survivors, their families, and supporters. The reunion aimed to keep the memory of the attack alive and advocate for a congressional investigation into the incident, which the LVA believes was deliberate and covered up by both U.S. and Israeli governments. LVA Executive Director Moe Shafer emphasized the event’s purpose was to share the survivors’ story and seek truth. The reunion was reported as a success, with no protests and a strong police presence ensuring safety, as noted by LVA President Phil Tourney.

Negative Press and Local Controversy

The reunion drew significant negative attention in Norfolk due to a circulated flyer, later deemed partially fake by organizers, which listed controversial figures, including Stew Peters, as speakers. Peters was confirmed as a speaker, prompting online backlash, boycott calls against the Sheraton, and accusations of promoting anti-Israel views. The controversy escalated when Peters was banned from both the Sheraton and VFW Post 4809, with the hotel and VFW citing their stance against controversial ideologies. The LVA clarified that they did not endorse anti-Israel views and that Peters was invited before his full background was known, admitting a lack of vetting. Shafer expressed frustration that the focus shifted from the Liberty tragedy to the speakers, stating the controversy caused personal distress to survivors and detracted from their mission.

Why the Negative Press Was Uncalled For

The negative press may be seen as disproportionate because the LVA’s primary goal was to honor the fallen and seek accountability for the 1967 attack, not to promote anti-Israel ideologies. The inclusion of Peters appears to have been a misstep due to inadequate vetting rather than an intentional endorsement of his views. The LVA, comprised of aging survivors, focused on their firsthand experience of loss and trauma. The intense scrutiny and accusations may have unfairly overshadowed the legitimate grievances of veterans who endured a devastating attack and feel their government has ignored their call for a thorough investigation. By amplifying the speaker controversy, the media and critics arguably diverted attention from the historical significance of the USS Liberty incident and the survivors’ decades-long quest for truth, potentially silencing their narrative under the guise of combating anti-Israel sentiment.

Frustration Over U.S. Aid to Israel and Lack of Apology

The USS Liberty veterans and their supporters have expressed deep frustration that the United States has provided billions of dollars in military and economic aid to Israel since 1967, including over $3.8 billion annually in recent years, while Israel has never issued a formal apology for the attack that killed 34 American sailors and wounded 171 others. The absence of an official apology, coupled with the continued flow of substantial U.S. aid, is seen by many survivors as a dismissal of their sacrifice and a failure to hold Israel accountable for an attack they believe was deliberate, further compounding their sense of betrayal and abandonment by their own government.

Why No Apology Ever Came

Despite decades of advocacy, a formal apology from Israel never materialized—and perhaps never will. Survivors and researchers point to political pressure from powerful pro-Israel lobbying interests, especially AIPAC, as a major reason why U.S. officials remained silent. AIPAC existed at the time of the attack and remains a significant force in shaping U.S.-Israel policy to this day. Others blame Cold War-era priorities, where preserving Israel as a regional ally outweighed justice for American sailors. Testimony was suppressed, inquiries were shut down, and high-ranking officers were told to stand down—all in the name of diplomacy. For the crew of the Liberty, this was the second betrayal: not just the attack, but the calculated silence that followed.

Remembering the Fallen in Communications History

The USS Liberty’s lost servicemen, especially the 25 communications and intelligence personnel killed in the 1967 Israeli attack, deserve to be remembered as heroes of communications history. Many ham radio operators began their journey in radio and electronics through military service, mastering skills that echo the Liberty’s SIGINT mission. Honoring these fallen radiomen, cryptologists and technicians, helps ensure their sacrifice—cut short in international waters—lives on, inspiring future generations to keep their memory and legacy alive.

Many of these men came from the same world we know—trained in radio fundamentals, antenna theory, and disciplined operating, often through amateur radio or military service. Their work aboard Liberty was a direct extension of those skills, applied in one of the most demanding intelligence roles of the Cold War.

USS Liberty Photo Archive

The pictures used in this article were taken from the US Navy History and Heritage Command at https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/search.html?q=USS+Liberty You can find high resolution images of the USS Liberty there.

The story of the USS Liberty is not just a chapter in Cold War history—it’s a living wound for the men who survived and a test of our willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. For the survivors, this has never been about vengeance. It’s about being heard, believed, and remembered before time runs out. Many of those killed were radiomen, cryptologists, and technicians—men who came from the same radio tradition many of us still practice today. Their voices are fading, but their message is not: they were attacked, abandoned, and silenced. And all they ever asked for was for us to remember. As ham radio operators, we can do them that honor.

“The craft of radio and signals has consequences. The men of the USS Liberty proved that with their lives.”
—Julian, OH8STN