A Ceremony of Valor — And an Unapologetic Stand for the Truth

On September 21, 1999, at the Army Navy Club in Washington, D.C., the USS Liberty Veterans Association presented the First Annual USS Liberty Veterans Award to Admiral Thomas H. Moorer.

It wasn’t just a banquet.

It was a declaration.

Survivors of the June 8, 1967 attack gathered with senior naval officers, a Medal of Honor recipient, and supporters to honor a man who had done something rare in Washington:

He spoke plainly.

He stood firm.

And he never walked away from them.

Why Admiral Moorer?

For decades after the attack, most Americans never heard the words “USS Liberty.”

The crew had.

They lived them.

Admiral Moorer, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly challenged the official “mistaken identity” narrative and openly criticized both the Israeli explanation and the U.S. government’s handling of the incident.

Multiple speakers described him as:

• Strong when it was unpopular
• Courageous when it was inconvenient
• Willing to confront power
• A man who would not bend to political pressure

One survivor explained that hearing Moorer publicly refer to the Liberty as an intelligence ship — and defend the crew — helped him begin recovering from decades of silence and post-traumatic stress.

That’s not symbolism.

That’s impact.

Remembering the Men of the Liberty

Throughout the ceremony, speakers honored:

• Captain William L. McGonagle
• Dr. Richard Kieffer, who treated the wounded for 21 hours despite severe injuries
• Chief engineer George Golden
• Radio operators who restored communications under fire
• Sailors who drained boilers moments before they were hit
• The 34 Americans who never came home

One theme repeated all afternoon:

The Liberty crew rose under fire.

The politics failed them.

“The Attack Was Directed”

When Admiral Moorer took the podium, he did not hedge.

He stated clearly:

• The Liberty was attacked without warning
• The ship looked nothing like the Egyptian vessel it was later claimed to be
• Israeli forces were highly trained and could identify ships
• U.S. rescue aircraft were launched — and then recalled from Washington
• Both the Israeli government and the U.S. government engaged in a cover-up

He said if the story had been written as fiction, no one would believe it.

And he closed by asking the audience to honor the bravery of the Liberty’s officers and men.

More Than an Award

The plaque presented to Admiral Moorer read in part:

“For his strong and steadfast support.”

That support mattered.

Because for many survivors, it meant they were not crazy.

They were not alone.

And someone at the highest levels of the U.S. military believed them.

The Larger Message

This ceremony was not just about 1967.

It was about:

• Truth versus narrative
• Loyalty to country versus loyalty to politics
• Accountability in wartime
• The moral responsibility to speak — even decades later

As one speaker said:

“If the Liberty had sunk, history would look very different.”

The Legacy

The First Annual USS Liberty Veterans Award marked a turning point.

It was public.

It was unapologetic.

And it signaled that the story of the USS Liberty would not quietly fade away.

Not while survivors still had breath.

Not while people were willing to stand with them.

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USS Liberty, Thomas H. Moorer, USS Liberty Veterans Association, June 8 1967, Naval History, Military Accountability, Government Cover-Up, Liberty Award, American Veterans