Assault on the Liberty: The True Story of the Attack by Israel on an American Intelligence Ship
Chapter Six: AIR ATTACK
By James Ennes
Searing heat and terrible noise came suddenly from everywhere. Instinctively I turned sideways, presenting the smallest target to the heat. Heat came first, and it was heat–not cannon fire–that caused me to turn away. It was too soon to be aware of rockets or cannon fire.
“We’re shooting!” I thought. “Why are we shooting?” The air filled with hot metal as a geometric pattern of orange flashes opened holes in the heavy deck plating. An explosion tossed our gunners high into the air-spinning, broken, like rag dolls.
My first impression–my primitive, protective search for something safe and familiar that put me emotionally behind the gun–was wrong. We were not firing at all. We were being pounded with a deadly barrage of aircraft cannon and rocket fire.
A solid blanket of force threw me against a railing. My arm held me up while the attacker passed overhead, followed by a loud swoosh, then silence.
O’Connor spotted bright flashes under the wings of the French built jet in time to dive down a ladder. He was struck in midair, severely wounded by rocket fragments before he crashed into the deck below.
I seemed to be the only one left standing as the jet disappeared astern of us. Around me, scattered about carelessly, men squirmed helplessly, like wounded animals–wide-eyed, terrified, not understanding what had happened.
The second airplane made a smoky trail in the sky ahead. Unable to move, we watched them make a sweeping 180-degree turn toward Liberty, ready to resume the attack. My khaki uniform was bright red now from two dozen rocket fragments buried in my flesh. My left leg, broken above the knee, hung from my hip like a great beanbag.
The taste of blood was strong in my mouth as I tested my good leg. Was I badly hurt? Could I help the men floundering here? Could I help myself. Was it cowardice to leave here? (more….)
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40th USS Liberty Survivors Reunion RBN Radio Special
