COLEBROOK – David Edwin “Eddie” Lewis, 90, of Colebrook, passed away at his home on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, after a long period of declining health.
A full obituary will appear here soon.
Calling hours will be on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A Masonic Lodge of Sorrow will immediately precede the visitation at the funeral home at 5:45. A funeral service will be held the next morning, Friday, Oct. 22, at 11 a.m. at the Monadnock Congregational Church in Colebrook. Interment will be private in the Colebrook Village Cemetery.
The June 8, 1967, Israeli attack on the USS Liberty was a deliberate, premeditated, well planned and almost perfectly executed attack by the Israeli military on a lone, freshly painted, well-marked, correctly identified, non-combatant US Navy ship by the most powerful military in the Middle East allied with the President of the United States in violation of international law and US Statutes.
Of a crew of 294 officers and men (including three civilians), the ship suffered thirty-four (34) killed in action and one hundred seventy-four (174) wounded in action. The ship itself, a Forty Million ($40,000,000) Dollar state-of-the-art signals intelligence (SIGINT) platform, was so badly damaged that it never sailed on an operational mission again and was sold in 1970 for $101,666.66 as scrap.
The attack included the jamming of our radios on both US Navy tactical and international maritime distress frequencies, the use of unmarked aircraft by the forces attacking the USS Liberty, and the deliberate machine gunning of life rafts we had dropped over the side in anticipation of abandoning ship.
The White House ordered the recall of rescue aircraft that had been launched from Sixth Fleet aircraft carriers while we were still under attack and calling for help. That order cost the lives of 25 of our shipmates killed by the torpedo.
After those flights were recalled, Sixth Fleet personnel listened to our calls for help as the attack continued, knowing they were forbidden to come to our assistance.
For over 54 years USS Liberty survivors have tried to tell our story to the American people. For over 54 years our effort didn’t get any traction.
Now that has changed.
One of the most famous and well-respected former US Navy SEALs in America, Jocko Willink, interviewed USS Liberty survivors for almost 2-½ hours for his podcast.
USS Liberty Survivors Joe Meadors, Phil Tourney and Larry Bowen with Jocko Willink Shortly After Their Interview for Jocko’s Podcast.
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.
