Madam Congresswoman Cammack,
This week I watched the 25th anniversary of our nation’s 9/11 remembrance ceremonies of the attack on America. Then I watched the incredible 60 Minutes interview with the recent rescue of the survivors of the downed aircraft in the war with Iran. As I listen to the Air Force Major recount his rescue I was struck by his emotional recollection of that day and his belief that America would never leave anyone behind. What a great job our military did in getting those two airman back safely and then the Department of War released declassified and released all that incredible footage of their rescue.
But that only raised my memories of some service members our government has indeed left behind. And to that end we need YOUR HELP REPRESENTATIVE CAMMACK!
I Navy veteran who was on the USS LIBERTY (AGTR-5) which was attacked in the Middle East where 34 Sailors, Marines and American civilians were killed and 170 were wounded. The LIBERTY is reportedly the most decorated U.S. Navy ship in history for a single attack. Our Commanding Officer was awarded the Medal of Honor. Next June 8th, 2027 will be 60 years the crew’s questions have gone unanswered regarding what happened that day. As there are not many of us surviving crew members left alive, I appeal to you to help us get the answers we deserve on what happened that day. PLEASE HELP US!
– Release of ALL information our government has regarding the attack on our ship under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Many important files remain classifieds because of government lawyers in FOIA cases appear to the courts for the files to remain classified. Question: What could possibly be the reason our government refuses to declassify all the USS LIBERTY related documents after 60 years? Certainly not sources and methods. Will you initiate action to declassify all government documents relating to the attack on the USS LIBERTY? If not, why not?
– A key component to our understanding of what happened that day where 34 American’s were killed is obtaining the gun camera videos taken by the Israeli pilots during the attack. Will you initiate a request for these videos to be released by the Israeli government? If not, why not? It should be noted that audio transcripts of the Israeli pilots involved in the attack are already available on the internet where one of the pilots clearly advises his headquarters that the ship is American prior to the attack.
All my shipmates and I want to know is what does our government know or believe happened that day. I am NOT ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION. I am NOT ASKING FOR ANYONE TO ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE INTENT OF THE ATTACKERS. ONLY WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT KNOWS AND TO VIEW THE FOOTAGE TAKEN BY THE ATTACKING AIRCRAFT.
PLEASE HELP US, But if you can’t please advise why you can’t or won’t.
Sincerely,
Frank McInturff LT, USN (Ret)
Ocala, FL.
Station HYPO 
18 September 2026 at 11:21
Frank … After 60 years it SHOULD ALL BE DECLASSIFIED!!! It will be interesting to see IF your Congresswoman responds or does anything! You and all of the crew deserved tge answers long before now! THANK YOU for ALL your Service and for enduring that horrendous (and senseless) attack! May the USS LUBERTY ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED!
V/R,
Ken Kuehne
Captain, USN (ret)
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18 September 2026 at 11:33
The only “honest answer” to this request lies in the only “honest statement” in one report, referenced to then Pres. L.B. Johnson…”I will not embarrass an Allie”…which, I believe, seems the sole reason to continue to withhold this information. Did he know of the planned attack beforehand?…seems he did and wanted the entire crew killed either by drowning or the attack (hence the “call back” of jets being sent to the Liberty’s defense during the attack). THAT did NOT seem to bother him at all… However…it continues to “bother” a lot of Navy veterans who were tasked with similar “classifications” while serving in the Navy.
To continue to stonewall and “cover” only reinforces the belief, at the time, that the very idea of “having one’s back” and the serviceman’s concept that should they need help, it would be coming…had been relegated to the ‘trash heap’ by politicians for political gains regardless of the consequences of those in the “field of fire” as it were.
To see recent events overturning that horribly corrupt segment in our history wherein it appears no longer to be the case, unfortunately, depends on who is in office. The irrational “rules of engagement” regarding layers of lawyers far removed from the events, allowing Taliban to “walk” who’d been actively engaged in a firefight, serve as such an example that came after L.B.J.’s reign.
When parents (grandparents now) have the ability to influence grandkids in their choice to volunteer for the service…using decades of experience as well as knowledge of previous “policy” acting counter to what is expressed in recruitment literature or face-to-face encounters…how will that work out for the country as a whole?
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