CaliBased: Larry Bowen
What really happened when Israel attacked a U.S. Navy ship in international waters during the Six-Day War? USS Liberty Survivor Larry Bowen Speaks on the CaliBased Podcast
A Firsthand Account of June 8, 1967
In a powerful interview on the CaliBased Podcast, USS Liberty survivor Larry Bowen shares his firsthand experience from one of the most controversial naval incidents in modern American history.
On June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy intelligence gathering ship, was attacked in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. The assault left 34 American servicemen dead and 174 wounded, marking one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S. naval vessel since World War II.
For decades, Liberty survivors like Larry Bowen have continued speaking publicly about what they experienced that day — determined to ensure the story is not forgotten.
The USS Liberty: A Surveillance Ship in International Waters
During the interview, Bowen explains the mission of the USS Liberty and the circumstances surrounding the ship’s presence in the Mediterranean.
The Liberty was an NSA intelligence collection vessel tasked with monitoring communications during the rapidly unfolding conflict in the Middle East.
According to Bowen, the ship was:
Clearly marked as an American naval vessel
Flying a large U.S. flag
Operating legally in international waters
Easily identifiable under clear weather conditions
Despite this, the ship suddenly came under attack.
The Attack on the Liberty
Bowen recounts the moment the attack began — a sudden and devastating assault involving fighter jets and torpedo boats.
Israeli aircraft first struck the Liberty with rockets, cannon fire, and napalm, targeting the ship’s communications systems and defensive capabilities. Later, torpedo boats approached and launched torpedoes toward the ship.
One torpedo struck the Liberty’s research compartment, killing 25 sailors instantly and leaving a massive hole in the vessel.
Despite the damage, the crew worked heroically to save the ship and care for the wounded.
Surviving the Chaos
Bowen describes the chaos aboard the Liberty as sailors fought fires, attempted to restore communications, and struggled to keep the ship afloat.
For the crew, survival depended on quick thinking and teamwork.
The ship was heavily damaged, yet the crew managed to prevent it from sinking — an achievement Bowen credits to the determination and courage of the sailors onboard.
Questions That Remain Decades Later
More than fifty years later, the events surrounding the USS Liberty attack continue to generate debate.
The official explanation given at the time described the attack as a case of mistaken identity. However, many Liberty survivors — including Larry Bowen — have expressed skepticism about that conclusion.
Bowen and his fellow survivors have spent decades calling for greater transparency and a full accounting of what happened that day.
For them, the issue is not political.
It is about honoring the memory of the 34 Americans who lost their lives and ensuring the truth is preserved.
Why Survivors Continue to Speak Out
Interviews like this one serve an important purpose.
As time passes and the number of surviving Liberty crew members continues to shrink, their firsthand testimony becomes even more valuable.
By sharing their experiences, survivors like Larry Bowen ensure that future generations understand what happened aboard the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967.
Their voices are part of the historical record.
And their mission remains the same:
Never forget the 34 Americans who died that day.
Learn More About the USS Liberty
🌐 USS Liberty Veterans Association
https://usslibertyveterans.org
🎙 The Phil Tourney Podcast
📚 Stay Afloat — Phil Tourney’s upcoming book about surviving the USS Liberty attack
Suggested Tags
USS Liberty
Larry Bowen
USS Liberty Survivor
USS Liberty Attack
Six Day War 1967
USS Liberty Veterans
Naval History
USS Liberty Testimony
Three Survivors. Three Parts of the Ship. One Story.
In a powerful episode hosted by Jeremy Slaydon of JSlayUSA, three survivors of the USS Liberty attack — Phil Tourney, Moe Shafer, and Larry Bowen — come together for a rare panel discussion about the events of June 8, 1967.
Each of these men was stationed in a different area of the ship during the attack. Yet despite experiencing the chaos from completely different vantage points, their testimonies all point to the same conclusion:
The attack on the USS Liberty was not a case of mistaken identity.
“We were there. We saw it. We lived it.”
For the survivors, telling this story is not about politics — it is about honoring the 34 Americans who were killed and the 174 who were wounded during one of the most controversial naval incidents in U.S. history.
The USS Liberty: A Clearly Marked American Ship
During the discussion, the survivors explain that the Liberty was an NSA intelligence collection ship operating legally in international waters during the Six-Day War.
According to Phil, Moe, and Larry:
The ship was clearly marked USS Liberty with its hull numbers visible.
A large American flag was flying prominently.
Israeli reconnaissance aircraft had flown over the ship multiple times earlier that day.
The weather conditions were clear with excellent visibility.
Despite these factors, the attack began suddenly and without warning.
“There’s no way they didn’t know who we were.”
The Attack: Air Strikes, Napalm, and Torpedoes
The panel describes the attack as a coordinated assault involving both aircraft and torpedo boats.
According to the survivors:
Israeli fighter jets opened fire with rockets and cannon rounds.
Napalm ignited fires across the ship’s deck.
Communications antennas were deliberately targeted and destroyed.
Torpedo boats later launched multiple torpedoes at the Liberty.
One torpedo struck the ship’s research compartment, killing 25 sailors instantly and tearing a massive hole in the hull.
For Moe Shafer, who was near the blast, the moment is unforgettable.
Three Perspectives from the Same Attack
What makes this panel particularly powerful is the different vantage points of the survivors.
Phil Tourney was working in damage control, helping fight fires and keep the ship afloat.
Moe Shafer was near the torpedo explosion and witnessed firsthand the devastation inside the ship.
Larry Bowen experienced the attack from another part of the vessel, seeing the aerial assault and chaos unfolding across the deck.
Despite being in different locations aboard the Liberty, their stories align in remarkable detail.
“Every survivor tells the same story.”
Abandoned in the Mediterranean
The panel also discusses one of the most troubling aspects of the incident: the lack of immediate assistance.
Rescue aircraft launched from nearby U.S. carriers were reportedly called back before reaching the Liberty, leaving the damaged ship and its wounded crew stranded for hours.
The crew fought fires, tended to the wounded, and worked desperately to keep the ship from sinking.
“We were on our own.”
The Questions That Still Remain
More than half a century later, the survivors say many questions remain unanswered.
The official investigation into the attack was completed in only a few days, and Liberty veterans have long argued that critical testimony was ignored or dismissed.
Phil, Moe, and Larry have spent decades asking for a full Congressional investigation into the attack.
“All we want is the truth.”
Why These Voices Still Matter
Today, the number of surviving Liberty crew members continues to shrink with time. That makes conversations like this panel discussion increasingly important.
Each survivor carries a piece of the story — and together they ensure that the events of June 8, 1967 are not forgotten.
For Phil Tourney, Moe Shafer, and Larry Bowen, sharing their experiences is about honoring the memory of the men who lost their lives that day.
“We speak for the 34 who can’t.”
Learn More About the USS Liberty
🌐 USS Liberty Veterans Association:https://usslibertyveterans.org
🎙 The Phil Tourney Podcast
🎥 Sacrificing Liberty Documentary
📚 Stay Afloat — Phil Tourney’s upcoming book
Suggested Tags:
USS Liberty, Phil Tourney, Moe Shafer, Larry Bowen, JSlayUSA, USS Liberty Survivors Panel, Six Day War 1967, USS Liberty Attack, Naval History, USS Liberty Veterans
