USS Pueblo

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Permalink Reply by BillG on February 25, 2012 at 5:59pm

Thanks for the post.

I just found this site since my son joined the Navy.

As an old CTT, I was stationed in the Philippines at the time.

Very tense times.

We must never forget.

Permalink Reply by Craig on February 25, 2012 at 8:17pm

Strange that I didn't post this here on NavyDads.  I wrote this for my website and usually shared it with NavyForMoms and NavyDads.  God knows why I didn't post it here.

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Man I tell you, everytime I post this it just ticks me off.  I hope it ticks you off too....

Sorry that it's so long, but after reading it, you'll appreciate it....

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~ I am a United States Navy fighting warship.

~ I am commissioned, and still property of the U.S. Navy, and still part of the U.S. Navy inventory.

~ I am the only commissioned U.S. naval vessel that is in the possession of a foreign nation.

~ I was hijacked on the high seas and in international waters by a foreign military force.

~ The last ship to have this happen was over 150 years earlier.

~ It was later found that U.S. spy, John Walker had sold crypto keys to Russia, however, Russia lacked the crypto hardware to use these keys.  It knew I was in international waters, but it greatly needed my hardware, so it helped with my capture.

~ I was named after a U.S. city.

~ My crew was 83 people mostly from the Navy "CT" rating. 79 U.S. Sailors, 2 Marines, and 2 Civilians.

~ Of this 83, 82 were captured, and one killed in the line of duty.

~ My crew were held captive for 11 months.

~ My captures kept my crew in inhumane, deplorable conditions, and also tortured them.

~ During propaganda photo sessions, my Sailor’s dutifully smiled for the cameras--and flashed “the bird”, that one-finger salute which my enemies didn't understand.

~ This picture was widely published in newspapers across America. When my captures ask, my crew told them it was "A Hawaiian Good Luck sign".  When they figured out what it really meant, they were extremely ticked, and subjected my men to many more severe beatings.

~ My CO was convinced that the enemy was bent on a massacre, so he chose to surrender me to save his sailors’ lives. Because of this my CO was was recommended for a court martial.

~ The Secretary of the Navy, John H. Chafee, rejected the recommendation for a court martial, stating, "They have suffered enough."

~ My CO was never found guilty of any indiscretions and continued his Navy career until retirement.

~ My sister ship, USS Liberty, was also doomed. It was sunk by Isreal. FIVE torpedoes were lobbed at the Liberty, one hit amidships and instantly killed 25 U.S. Sailors. A total of 34 U.S. Sailors died in the attack, 172 were injured.

~ Although both I and my sister ship (USS Liberty) suffered similar fates, my CO was recommended for court martial, the CO of the USS Liberty was awarded the Medal of Honor. Even though both actions were within 6 months of each other.

~ Both my crew, and the USS Liberty, contained mostly Sailors from the "CT" rating.

~ Even though I am still captured, over 250,000 people have boarded me, to pay disrespect to both me, and the United States.

~ The U.S. is still technically at war with the country that captured me.

~ When captured, I had an enormous U.S. military force nearby, and within 5 minutes of flying time to help me. Even through I asked for help, no one came to help me.

~ To date, the capture has resulted in no reprisals against my enemy; no military action was taken at the time, or at any later date

Who am I ?

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I am the USS PUEBLO (AGER-2), and the only commissioned US Navy warship held captive by a foreign goverenment.  

 

The only reason I brought this up is North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il recently fired a missle that is a real concern for all of us.

The US is still trying to get this ship back for political reasons. North Korea is willing to repatriate the USS Pueblo to United States authorities, on the condition that a prominent U.S. government official, such as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, come to Pyongyang for high-level talks. However, now with all the Nuclear crap going on, this is back to the bottom of the list....

What the ship looks like today...

 

The story ---> http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=588

 

For more info on the USS Pueblo, goto http://www.usspueblo.org

 

Here is a satellite view of the USS Pueblo in North Korea. 
http://www.gearthhacks.com/downloads/map.php?file=21912

 

Q.  Did we ever had a clear shot of re-capturing our ship back?

A.  Yes, last year 2009, North Korea moved this ship from the east coast to the west coast.  The ship enter international waters and the U.S. had a great opportunity to take it back.  But the current administration choose not to do it. 

Q. Why didn't we get them out of there sooner? 

A. Help was promised but never arrived. More than likely, no one wanted to take responsibility for an attack on North Korean vessels attacking Pueblo. By the time President Lyndon Johnson was awakened, Pueblo had been captured and any rescue attempt would have been futile.

Q. If all the Korean's wanted was an admission of guilt why didn't we send it sooner? 

A. It's support the idea of agreeing to give in to terrorism. Finally, the US government agreed in writing that the Pueblo was spying on North Korea and offered an apology and a promise not to spy on the nation again. The crew was released at the DMZ between North and South Korea, after which the US then verbally retracted the entire admission of guilt.

Q.  Do you know where Commander Bucher is buried? 

A.  Commander Bucher died on January 28, 2004. He was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California

Q. Where their Marine's on the ship? What were the rates and ratings of the rest of the crew? 

A. There were two Marine's on the ship, the rest were Sailors and two Civilians. Mostly of the CT rating.
Officers:
CDR Lloyd Mark "Pete" Bucher, Commanding Officer Deceased - January 28, 2004 
LT Edward R. Murphy Jr., Executive Officer El Cajon, California 
LT Stephen R. Harris, Research Officer Melrose, Massachusetts 
LT(jg) F. Carl Schumacher, First Lieutenant St. Louis, Missouri 
ENS Timothy L. Harris, Supply Officer Tombstone, Arizona 
CWO-4 Gene Lacy, Engineering Officer Kenmore, Washington

Chief Petty Officers:
CTMC Ralph D. Bouden Yuma, Arizona 
ENC Monroe O. Goldman Deceased May 3, 2006 
CTC James F. Kell (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Chula Vista, California 
First Class Petty Officers:
CT1 Don E. Bailey (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Portland, Indiana 
HM1 Herman P. Baldridge Chula Vista, California 
CT1 Michael T. Barrett Kalamazoo, Michigan 
EN1 Rushel J. Blansett Oak Hills, California 
YN1 Armando Canales Fresno, California 
SK1 Policarpo Polla "PP" Garcia Oxnard, California 
CT1 Francis J. Ginther Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 
EMI Gerald W. Hagenson Deceased - November 4, 1988 
BM1 Norbert J. Klepac Lewisville, Texas 
QM1 Charles B. Law Deceased - September 25, 2001 
CT1 James D. Layton Cherryfield, Maine 
PH1 Lawrence W. Mack Desceased - March 1, 2003 
CT1 Donald R. Peppard El Paso, Texas 
CT1 David L. Ritter (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Hanford, California 
EN1 William D. "Scabbie" Scarborough Deceased - February 26, 1970 
CT1 James A. Shepard Lady Lake, Florida 
Second Class Petty Officers:
CT2 Michael W. Alexander Deceased - April 20, 1994 
CT2 Wayne D. Anderson Waycross, Georgia 
BM2 Ronald L. Berens Belle Plains, Kansas 
SGT Robert J. Chicca, USMC (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Bonita, California 
IC2 Victor D. Escamilla Lubbock, Texas 
CT2 Joseph R. Fejfar (Hospitalized in Yokosuka prior to deployment) Kansas City, Missouri 
SGT Robert J. Hammond, USMC (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Campton, New Hampshire 
RM2 Lee R. Hayes Columbus, Ohio 
CT2 Peter M. Langenberg South Pasadena, California 
SM2 Wendell G. Leach Deceased - June 5, 1998 
CS2 Harry Lewis Ocala, Florida 
CT2 Donald R. McClarren Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 
ET2 Clifford C. Nolte Menlo, Iowa (last known ) 
CT2 Charles R. "Joe" Sterling Desceased - November 21, 2002 
GM2 Kenneth R. Wadley Woodburn, Oregon (last known) 
CT2 Elton A. Wood Spokane, Washington 
Third Class Petty Officers:
CT3 Charles W. Ayling Roanoke, Virginia 
CT3 Paul D. Brusnahan Trenton, New Jersey 
BM3 Willie C. Bussell Suffolk, Virginia 
RM3 Charles H. Crandell Forsyth, Missouri 
CT3 Bradley R. Crowe Newport, Vermont 
CT3 Rodney H. Duke Collins, Mississippi 
CT3 John W. Grant Portland, Maine 
CT3 Jerry Karnes Pittsburg, Texas 
CT3 Earl M. Kisler Canby, Oregon 
CT3 Anthony A. Lamantia Laurel, Maryland 
CT3 Ralph McClintock (TAD from Kamiseya, Japan) Jericho, Vermont 
QM3 Alvin H. Plucker Ft. Lupton, Colorado 
CS3 Ralph E. Reed Duncannnon, Pennsylvania 
CT3 Steven J. Robin Deceased - July 29, 2008 
CT3 John H. Shilling Mantua, Ohio 
CT3 Angelo S. Strano Greensville, Texas 
EN3 Darrel D. Wright Alma, West Virginia

Non-rated:
Steward Rogelio P. Abelon Mountlake Terrace, Washington 
Steward Rizalino L. Aluague Jacksonville, Florida 
Fireman Richard E. Arnold Sebastapol, California 
Fireman Richard I. Bame Manchester, Michigan 
Fireman Peter M. "Milt" Bandera Shingle Springs, California 
Fireman Howard E. Bland Deceased - July 25, 1992 
Seaman Stephen P. Ellis Henderson, Nevada 
Fireman John C. Higgins St. Joseph, Missouri 
Seaman Robert W. Hill Jr. Orange Park, Florida 
Fireman Duane Hodges Deceased - January 23, 1968 
Seaman Roy J. Maggard Deceased - May 27, 1994 
Seaman Larry J. Marshall Freetown, Indiana 
Fireman Thomas W. Massie Roscoe, Illinois 
Fireman John A. Mitchell Kneeland, California 
Fireman Michael A. O'Bannon Newberg, Oregon 
Seaman Earl R. Phares Ontario, California 
Seaman Dale E. Rigby Ivins, Utah 
Seaman Richard J. Rogala Elk Grove Village, Illinois 
Seaman Ramon Rosales El Paso, Texas 
Seaman Edward S. "Stu" Russell Eureka, California 
Seaman John R. Shingleton San Ramon, California 
Fireman Norman W. Spear Windham, Maine 
Fireman Larry E. Strickland Warner Springs, California 
Fireman Steven E. Woelk McLouth, Kansas 
Civilian Oceanographers:
Harry Iredale, III (TAD from the Naval Oceanographic Office) Fairfax Station, Virginia 
Dunnie R. Tuck, Jr. (TAD from the Naval Oceanographic Office) Carriere, Mississippi 

Permalink Reply by BillG on February 25, 2012 at 10:09pm

I was on Mid watch in San Miguel and they came around handing out weapons...tense night.

Permalink Reply by Craig on February 26, 2012 at 4:01am

I was in 5th grade.  However, I've been beating this info into deppers heads forever.  This is one part of history that is still continuing.  The USS Pueblo is still an active duty U.S. Navy warship still in the hands of a foreign government.  

Since you live in P-cola, you should see the museum in Bldg 511 at Corry.  It has the declassified photo's of the USS Pueblo CT area displayed.  Man, those are some awesome photo's. 

I just wished more deppers would know about it.  

btw:  If your son needs any help understanding the Navy or the CTN job, have him come talk to me at www.NavyDEP.com.  I've been pumping up deppers with info for years. 

Permalink Reply by BillG on February 26, 2012 at 8:35am

Thanks for the offer and your support on these sites. I'll let him know.

The 60's were tough on CT's, between the fire at Kamasya, 2 EC121's, the Liberty, and the Pueblo. Someone told me that during those 10 years mid 60's to mid 70's, we lost more CT's than we lost Seals.

I have volunteered at the museum and helped them move when they lost their space. The organization needs the support of the CT community to keep these memories alive.

Permalink Reply by BillG on February 26, 2012 at 8:48am

If you know any of the admin at NavydDEP.com, please let them know they have a misspelled word on the banner.

Permalink Reply by Craig on February 26, 2012 at 8:35pm

BillG - Here is the one about the EC121....  Most people haven't a clue the amount of CT's

we loose.  Heck just look in the past 10 years.   

Per the admin at NavyDEP.  From rumors I've heard, the guys son (who is a CTN) did that.

I think he was thinking the "I before E except after C" saying, but it doesn't work in all cases.