USS Liberty Capt. William McGonagle-Medal of Honor Citation
USS Liberty Capt. William McGonagle-Medal of Honor Citation
§8291. Medal of honor: The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while a member of the naval service, distinguishes himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty-(1) while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; (2) while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or (3) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
WILLIAM LOREN MCGONAGLE MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.
Sailing in international waters, the Liberty was attacked without warning by a jet fighter aircraft and motor torpedo boats which inflicted many casualties among the crew and caused extreme damage to the ship.
Capt. William McGonagle
Although severely wounded during the first air attack, Capt. McGonagle remained at his battle station on the badly damaged bridge and, with full knowledge of the seriousness of his wounds, subordinated his own welfare to the safety and survival of his command.
Steadfastly refusing any treatment which would take him away from his post, he calmly continued to exercise firm command of his ship. Despite continuous exposure to fire, he maneuvered his ship, directed its defense, supervised the control of flooding and fire, and saw to the care of the casualties.
Capt. McGonagle’s extraordinary valor under these conditions inspired the surviving members of the Liberty’s crew, many of them seriously wounded, to heroic efforts to overcome the battle damage and keep the ship afloat.
Subsequent to the attack, although in great pain and weak from loss of blood, Capt. McGonagle remained at his battle station and continued to command his ship for more than 17 hours.
It was only after rendezvous with a U.S. destroyer that he relinquished personal control of the Liberty and permitted himself to be removed from the bridge.
Even then, he refused much needed medical attention until convinced that the seriously wounded among his crew had been treated. Capt. McGonagle’s superb professionalism, courageous fighting spirit, and valiant leadership saved his ship and many lives.
His actions sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
ET3 Terry Halbardier Silver Star Citation
ET3 Terry Halbardier Silver Star Citation
Silver Star Medal (1) Awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, is cited for gallantry in action that does not warrant a Medal of Honor or Navy Cross. (a) While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; (b) While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or (c) While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. (2) The heroic act(s) performed must render the individual conspicuous and well above the standard expected. An accumulation of minor acts of heroism normally does not justify the award, but unusual or exceptional cases will be decided on their merits. Authorization 10 U.S.C. S6244
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Electronics Technician Third Class James Terry Halbardier, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving on board the U.S.S. LIBERTY (AGTR-5), on 8 June 1967.
Terry Halbardier
The U.S.S. LIBERTY was attacked by Israeli aircraft and motor torpedo boats in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea on the fourth day of the SIX DAY WAR. Petty Officer Halbardier, without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, fearlessly and repeatedly exposed himself to overwhelming rocket and machinegun fire to repair a damaged antenna in an open deck area during heavy aerial attacks.
Aware that all of the ship’s transmitting antennas had been destroyed and that communication with higher authority depended upon antenna repair, Petty Officer Halbardier risked his life to run connecting coaxial cable across open decks from the antenna to the main transmitter room.
His efforts allowed the ship to establish communications with distant elements of the SIXTH Fleet and call for assistance.
Despite being wounded, Petty Officer Halbardier ignored his injuries until the antenna had been repaired and the call for help had been received and acknowledged.
His courageous actions were critical in alerting distant Navy commanders to the ship’s need for assistance and were instrumental in saving the ship and hundreds of lives.
Petty Officer Halbardier’s outstanding display of decisive leadership, unrelenting perseverance, and loyal devotion to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
RIP Lorna Beth Stopper
Lorna Beth Stopper-Sister of Duane Marggraf (KIA USS Liberty June 8, 1967
Dodgeville / Fond du Lac – Lorna Beth Stopper, age 78, of Dodgeville, formerly of Fond du Lac, passed away on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at Upland Hills Nursing & Rehab Center in Dodgeville.
She was born on September 30, 1942 in Fond du Lac, a daughter of the late Carlton and Esther (Scheibach) Marggraf. She graduated from Goodrich High School and then Waldorf College in Iowa with an Associate’s Degree in 1963. She then graduated from Marion College in Fond du Lac with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
Lorna lived and worked in San Francisco in the 1960s and moved back to Fond du Lac after her brother PO Duane Marggraf was killed while serving in the US Navy aboard the USS Liberty.
On August 2, 1969, she married Edward Stopper at Immanuel Trinity Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac. He preceded her in death on October 27, 2003.
Lorna spent a majority of her life as an educator with a passion for teaching. In her spare time, she enjoyed crossword puzzles, crocheting, bible studies and especially spending time with family and friends.
Duane Marggraf-KIA USS Liberty June 8, 1967
Lorna is survived by her children Lisa (Dennis) Fenrick of Beloit and Eric (Beth) Stopper of Dodgeville; her grandchildren Benjamin and Genevieve Stopper; her sister Virginia “Ginny” Hoffman of Charleston, SC; nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother and her brother-in-law Bill Hoffman.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 19, 2021 at GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH in Dodgeville. Rev. Mark Williamson will officiate. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until time of services on Monday at the church.
Inurnment will be held at a later date at Estabrooks Cemetery in Fond du Lac.
The family would like to thank the staff at Upland Hills Nursing & Rehab Center and Upland Hills Hospice for their loving care & service.
Gorgen-McGinley & Ayers Funeral Home
Dodgeville, WI
www.gorgenfh.com
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Cong. Michael Cloud (R-TX27) Ignores USS Liberty Survivors’ Requests
Cong. Michael Cloud (R-TX27) Ignores USS Liberty Survivors’ Requests
There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and timeless as infinity. It is the void, bereft of conscience and patriotism, but not of callousness and hypocrisy. This is the dimension of dystopia. It is an area we call Congress.
by Joe Meadors
Contact a Member of Congress. Any member. Ask if they support the American military. To a person, they will loudly and repeatedly heap their admiration and unwavering adoration on the members of our Armed Forces.
Ask them to give a visible sign of that unwavering support of our American Armed Forces by publicly supporting USS Liberty Survivors’ effort to ensure the US government investigates the attack on their ship.
Silence.
Ask them to express outrage at the fact that machine gun fire from the torpedo boats attacking the USS Liberty deliberately destroyed life rafts USS Liberty crewmen dropped over the side in anticipation of abandoning ship. That action removed any chance USS Liberty crewmen would survive the sinking of our ship.
Silence.
Ask them to express outrage that the President of the United States ordered the rescue effort of the Sixth Fleet to stand down and recall aircraft that had been launched to come to our help.
Silence.
Invite them to attend a Memorial Service honoring our 34 shipmates who were killed in action during the attack.
Silence.
Correspondence from survivors of other attacks on US Navy ships since the end of WWII would be quickly and satisfactorily addressed by their Congressional Delegation.
Not so correspondence from USS Liberty survivors.
How do I know this happens?
Because it is happening to me.
For over 30 years, I have lived in this Congressional District. During that time, I could not elicit any concern about the actions conducted by the forces attacking us and by the President of the United States. Both Democrat and Republican Members of Congress who have represented and are representing me have ever expressed any concern at all about what happened to us.
For those who applaud Congressman Cloud’s policy of ignoring the requests of American Servicemen who survived the War Crimes committed by the Israeli military during the attack on our ship, feel free to express your gratitude by emailing Nicole Beamer at nicole.beamer@mail.house.gov