Can’t the Liberty apologists give it a rest for just one day with their disinformation?

OPINION

Of all the Federal Holidays, November 11 is Veterans Day. It remembers the service and sacrifices of American service personnel and deservedly so.  It  still remains largely unjaded and non-political.  There are local , State and Federal remembrances  in the hundreds across the nation and with it the media coverage afterward commemorating and recording such.

Sgt. Bryce Lockwood, a USS Liberty survivor from the June 8th, 1967 attack by Israel remembers.

He was sealed off when the hatches were closed after a Israel MTB motorboat torpedoed the starboard side of the ship killing 25 crewmen instantly.  His story is best described in the Attack on the Liberty (2009) by James Scott and James Ennes’ Assault on the Liberty (1979-present, 11th edition).  He was awarded the Silver Star, the Purple Heart for his courage.  He saved wounded sailors from the flooding compartment and this isn’t even the whole story.  He is a retired Marine, a Pastor, a Russian linguist among other things and a true American hero.

Veteran’s Day is HIS day, he earned it. You would think so anyway.

On November 11, 2009 he attended a Stratford High School  program commemorating veterans and read a prepared statement.  Very little is ever published with regard to the Liberty survivor’s stories.  The obvious “Israel First” media, Springfield News-leader saw to that and reported Lockwood’s   comments in just two sentences.  It follows without the slightest mention of the deliberate attack, consequences, heroism, the continuing cover up.  Just passing lip serve by a paper that knows to tow the line.

“Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Lockwood, a Strafford resident, was the only Marine survivor of the USS Liberty, which was attacked in 1968 during the Six-Day War. Reading from a prepared statement, he said the government still needed to properly investigate Israel’s role in the attack.”

“When [Rep. Roy] Blunt [R-MO], who is a member of the House intelligence committee, spoke later, he responded to Lockwood by saying that Israel is America’s strongest ally in the Middle East.”

Of all days , why would a US Congressman have the desire,  the blatant  incivility and the insincerity to  remark to a  USS liberty survivor, a Silver Star recipient, a Purple Heart winner who had his only two fellow Marines killed along with 32 shipmates killed by  IDF  aircraft and MTB boats with impunity  that Israel is a “ally”. If so, for who?  Not one Israeli or Israel itself was ever held to an accounting. Not one.  The IDF Navy commemorated the MTB boat that fired the deadly torpedo so vast was their regret.   I doubt he’d tell a Pearl Harbor survivor that the Japanese make a great automobile.  But he did here.  Oy vey! as the AIPAC contributions come in. Rep. Blunt is going to run for the Senate seat in 2010 as Senator from Missouri, judging from his past actions, the State of Israel will be delighted in his representation.

Lockwood stills suffers from the attack in ways that are heart breaking which are better told by Lockwood himself than hear this nonsense  from a  Congressman determined to show his “Israel First’  fealty and if not “chutzpah’ on Novemeber 11, Veterans Day.  After all ask American born Israeli Ambassador to the US  Michael Oren how else to get into the fast lane than running with the USS Liberty cover up  and obfuscations.

I’m sick of these ‘Israel First’ Americans with their ‘dual’ patriotism in insulting American heroes on Veterans Day (of all days) for political expediency and gain.

All Sgt. Lockwood asked for were answers long overdue (40+ years) from his government and his elected representatives.  What he got instead was a subtle “f–k you” from his representative.

Here’s the complete article before it disappears like so many articles mentioning the USS Liberty attack  as these are all too prone to do. There’s more to this story on many levels I’m sure but whose fault in that in the selective and slanted reporting of it? But the rationalization  for the Liberty attack  by Israel will always make the cut

November 12, 2009

Honoring those who serve

Strafford graduate recognized on Veterans Day

Cliff Sain
News-Leader

It wasn’t long ago that Lukas Shook sat in the stands during a Veterans Day celebration in the Strafford High gym, thinking he’d like to be in the military.

On Wednesday, the 2006 Strafford High graduate — who suffered a severe injury while serving in Iraq — found himself among those honored at this year’s celebration.

“These vets here have been through it all,” Shook said. “They are the reason I joined.”

After the event, Shook said it was a learning experience to participate as a member of the military.

“I’ve always had respect for veterans, but now maybe a little more,” he said.

Dennis Shook said it made him proud to see his son, Lukas, in full uniform, speak to the crowd of middle and high school students.

“We are thankful to the Lord that he is able to do that today,” he said.

Shook’s foot is paralyzed and he walks with a noticeable limp. However, the soldier is in good health otherwise and is in a Warrior in Transition Unit at Fort Leonard Wood. Seven months ago, he married high school sweetheart, Emily, who was in his graduating class at Strafford High.

“It’s more emotional when you’ve been through this,” said Emily Shook, noting the event was meaningful. “You feel like you relate a lot better.”

Commitment

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, who attended Strafford schools, spoke at the event. He reminded students that freedom cannot be taken for granted.

“Freedom is a blessing, but it’s a blessing that any generation could lose,” Blunt said. “Every generation has to be committed to it.”

There was a moment of silence and the sounding of taps to honor soldiers killed and wounded in the recent massacre at Fort Hood.

“We have a duty to ferret out what happened and to make sure there is punishment for that,” he said. (USS Liberty looking for answers need not apply -jd)

Other veterans who spoke included U.S. Staff Sgt. William Gish, who said it was important to remember family members who are left behind when a soldier is deployed.

“Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Lockwood, a Strafford resident, was the only Marine survivor of the USS Liberty, which was attacked in 1968 during the Six-Day War. Reading from a prepared statement, he said the government still needed to properly investigate Israel’s role in the attack.

When Blunt, who is a member of the House intelligence committee, spoke later, he responded to Lockwood by saying that Israel is America’s strongest ally in the Middle East.“

(Thus it justifies and obfuscates the unexplained 34 Liberty dead, 174 wounded, their familes and silences the survivors’ simple request for a first time honest and open Congressional investigation. eh Rep. Blunt? -jd)

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20091112/NEWS01/911120384/1007/Honoring-those-who-serve