Late USS Liberty Veteran from San Angelo Honored Monday

On June 8, 1967 the USS Liberty, an American intelligence ship, was cruising in international waters 15 miles off of the Sinai Peninsula during the Six Day War. At 2 o’clock that afternoon, Israeli forces attacked the ship by air and sea. Torpedo boats launched torpedoes that tore a 35x40 foot hole below the water line in the vessel, and Israeli fighter jets riddled the ships’ deck and hull with gunfire and napalm for almost two hours.

In a small ceremony yesterday morning at the McNease Convention Center, military personnel and ex-classmates gathered on the anniversary of that fateful day to honor Halbardier, who repaired the ship's communication systems during the attack.

“Terry passed on Aug. 11 last year, his spirit and all of those aboard the USS Liberty will be with us to remind us of what love for country and human sacrifice are meant to be,” said Joe McManus, classmate of Halbardier’s from the graduating class of 1963 from Central High School. “Picking today for this ceremony was not by accident, it is the 48th anniversary of the actual battle, [that took place] four years after Terry graduated from high school.”

State Rep. Drew Darby was in attendance and even though he didn’t know Halbardier personally, but he had done his research and gave a speech in appreciation of Halbadier's service along with a resolution from the Texas House of Legislature commending his heroic actions.

“A San Angelo native Petty Officer, Terry Halbardier was serving in 1967 as an electronics technician, third class abroad the USS Liberty,” Darby read the proclamation. “The first assault severely comprised the ship's communications system, hampering its ability to call for aid from the rest of the United States Sixth Fleet, and whereas [there was] a great risk to his life, Petty Officer Halbardier went out on the open deck under heavy fire and laid coaxial cable from an undamaged antenna to the main transmitter room. Even though he was wounded he continued to work until communications had been restored and help had been summoned from the rest of the fleet. His selfless actions helped to keep a catastrophic situation from becoming even worse and saved the lives of many of his crew members.”

There were 34 lives lost that day, and over 100 wounded. Many of those received Purple Hearts and Silver Stars for their sacrifice. Halbardier received both, but only decades after that tragic day.

“What he often called 'my one bad day in the Navy' also turned out to be his finest hour, earning him the lasting respect and gratitude of his shipmates, his family and friends and his nation,” Darby spoke. “Now therefore be it resolved that tribute be paid to the life and heroism of Terry Halbardier and that he be honored for his patriotic service to his nation and to the state of Texas.”

Darby presented the resolution to Don Marsh, also a classmate of Halbardier's, who organized the ceremony. Marsh presented the Central and Lake View High School ROTC groups, Austin Elementary and Navy Lt. Commander Allen from Goodfellow Air Force Base with framed collages containing pictures of Halbardier and documents explaining his experience that day 48 years ago.

The USS Liberty attack has been wrapped in controversy since 1967. Soldiers aboard were gagged by the Navy not to talk about the incident. It has been reported by men on the ship that the Israeli military made no mistake in their attack, knowing full well the ship was a U.S. Navy vessel as they had been in radio contact with the ship earlier on that day, and were even observed by crewmen as having flown low enough to observe the flag raised on the mast.

James Innes, who was a division officer aboard that day, wrote a book titled Assault on the Liberty in 1979, despite the gag order. In it, he details his experience and the fallout thereafter. Below is an excerpt from his book.

Before USS Liberty arrived in the area, U.S. Sixth Fleet Commander Admiral William Martin promised to provide air support within ten minutes if an emergency arose. Yet when the ship did come under attack, the White House blocked any air rescue for more than 90 minutes. Officers on the bridge of the aircraft carrier Saratoga heard Liberty's radio operators calling for help while bombs burst in the background, but were forbidden to help. When Navy jet aircraft were finally authorized to come to the ship's aid, the Israeli government suddenly ended the attack and withdrew, claiming that they had mistaken the ship for an Egyptian horse transport named El Quseir. Only then did the identity of the assailants become known.