By Ernie Gallo http://www.usslibertyveterans.org/gallo.html

Ernie Gallo

I have been suspended from all Navy League functions for threatening the 501 (c)3 charitable status by using the Navy League to foster my USS Liberty agenda. This is not true and I am not anti-Semitic as stated.

Jim Ennes, the author of “Assault on the Liberty”, initially signed me up in the Washington state area and that seemed like a neat idea. Then, in the 2005 fall, I was asked to give a USS Liberty speech to the St. Augustine Navy League (SANL). I was warmly received and I liked this group of people. So, I moved my affiliation from Washington State to the SANL. As time passed, I enjoyed the interaction with the navy ships at Mayport, the navy air wing at Jacksonville Navy Air Station, the coast guard facility and ships at Mayport, the air wing at Cecil Field, and the Marine Logistics Command at Blount Island. As a matter of fact, I had the opportunity to go aboard the boomer, the USS Tennessee, and tour the boomer school at Kings Point, Georgia. I was having the time of my life and at every opportunity…

I was keeping the USS Liberty story alive. That was NEVER a hidden agenda.

Furthermore, when one of our members wrote a great navy story, “Heros of the Hook”, the SANL explored passing this book to the components we supported. I suggested that I could also supply a book entitled “Assault on the Liberty” and a DVD “Dead in the Water”. They were receptive to the idea. Then, I suggested that why don’t we collect used books, box them up, and give them to our typical components and also to every ship at Mayport. The SANL approved the project and I jumped to name it “The Captain William McGonagle Memorial Library” and I received overwhelming support. Since I started this project, over 5,000 books have gone through my hands to also include the USS Constitution and the USS Freedom LCS-1. When I presented my box of books to the respective command, I talked freely about Captain McGonagle, his Medal of Honor, and how he got us out of harms way. But, I discovered that if I indicated that the attack was a brutal and deliberate attack by Israel, I received a few irritated comments by a very few SANL members. If I was in a good mood, I refrained from mentioning Israel and if not, I gave the historical rendition. Nevertheless, my project was very successful and I was always warmly greeted at the ships quarterdeck. None of the commands ever complained about the USS Liberty story.

However, I was curious as to why SANL directors were not making any attempt to beat the SANL drum with Washington. Sea Power magazine cites positive actions by either personnel or councils. Ignoring the lack of notoriety, I was happy just giving back to the sailors and marines and that’s all that counted. As a matter of fact, I received a Presidents award in December 2009. One of the reasons I received the award was that I came to the aid of the USS Farragut DDG 99, an Arlie Burk destroyer. I was the SANL liaison. The ship had hit heavy seas and the Ward Room 46 inch LED TV came off its mounting and broke. They could not replace it and they asked me for help. So, I acquired $250 LVA support and raised $600 from SANL. Needless to say, everyone was very happy. My rapport with the Farragut was so good that when I came aboard I was piped aboard as “SANL arriving” or “Liberty arriving”. I was even invited to an overnight sail for a Tomahawk Missile Launch Test firing. I was given the Commodore quarters. Wow! During that cruise, the CTs, now called Cryptologic Technicians which make up the Electronic Warfare Division, asked that I give them a USS Liberty briefing in THEIR spaces. I have been flying very high as a member of the SANL.

Ending 2009, I was elected Vice president for Military Affairs; continued to carry my USS Farragut liaison duties; and, continued the Capt. William McGonagle Memorial Library project. Then, my trouble started with out new elected SANL President on Jan. 1, 2010.

At our February meeting, he invited a Lt. Colonel Ranger who had been very much involved in fighting the fanatical Islamics. He spoke three of their languages fighting them in Iraq, Afghanistan, and North Africa. He was very much into their mind set. When he finished, I asked a hypothetical question. I said, “I deeply respect what you do and I deeply appreciate your service to our country. As a USS Liberty survivor, most of us have become students of the Middle East to attempt to understand what happened to us. I have completed much research and I believe we are facing a religious war. Therefore, if we stopped supporting Israel and told them to make peace with the Palestinians, would the fanatical Islamics stop coming after us.” Before I could get my question asked, our new President jumped all over me and said, “We will have none of that”. But at the same time, others at the council shouted for me to ask the question and I did. While I was angry, I did not say anything as I planned to talk with the SANL President after the meeting privately. However, towards the end of the meeting he publicly trashed my Middle East politics and indicated that I was an anti-Semite. I demanded a public apology and never got it and he saw to it that I was drummed out of the SANL. I have learned there were others who also were tired of me trashing the good name of Israel. Or, was I telling the truth of the Liberty attack and they did not want to hear it anymore?

From that point on, as I insisted that I was wronged party, it went down hill after that. Therefore, I was told that I threatened the 501©3 status of the Navy League. Unless, I am missing something, I have never asked the Navy League to lobby congress, business, or the media to investigate the USS Liberty. In the beginning, I have asked the Navy League Florida directors to push for the above investigation. They complied and wrote letters to Washington and were told that the Navy League does not get involved in these situations. I understood and put it behind me. I have asked council members individually to write to the President and their congressmen and no problems were cited. But now all of sudden I threaten the Navy League’s charitable status? I know the personalities involved and they have to find something to send me packing.

Before I close, I also want to say that they have engineered this dismissal so that I cannot speak to the SANL board of directors or the council itself. Fair? No, just label him anti-Semtic and kick him out.

On April 30th, 2010, I visited the Navy League Headquarters to determine if the SANL President and the All Florida President can ban me from all Navy League functions. The individual I talked with began by giving me a lecture indicating that the USS Liberty Veterans Association (LVA) has been a thorn in their side for years. Needless to say, I knew I was not going to get any help. In fact, the individual said I should read Jay Crystals book on the attack.

The basis for their lack of empathy comes from their belief that the attack was accidental. That is, they acquired their position from Judge Jay Crystal and his book. They believe he is a much respected Federal Judge. With that I knew I was in trouble. I countered and indicated that his book is full of lies, half truths, and incorrect statements and I gave them examples. I was also told that Admiral Thomas Moorer did not help by convening an investigative panel indicating that the attack was deliberate. He was very critical of Admiral Moorer.

With that statement, I understood why the LVA has been a problem for them. That is, the Navy League wants to believe that the attack was accidental and therefore, we should also. I pleaded with him to read James Scott book “The Attack on the Liberty”. Nevertheless, I indicated that the SANL board of directors had not say in my termination and I did not feel that was fair. While he would not commit one way or the other, he did indicate that I should “work it out with the board”.

The All Florida President and the SANL President has forbidden the SANL board of directors to discuss my termination or reinstatement. Therefore, to all of you, please keep this in mind if you are involved with the Navy League. I could use your help.

Thank you, Ernie Gallo

Enclosed is the minutes of their Board of Directors of the incident in their local newsletter from their website:

Navy League of the United States

St. Augustine Council, Inc.

MINUTES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

April 12, 2010

# Call to Order– President [William] Korach called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.

Pledge of Allegiance/Announcements – President [William] Korach led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. New member David Beauchamp led the group in prayer.

President’s Remarks – President [William] Korach reported that Ernie Gallo had been suspended from SANL as of 7:00 pm April 8, 2010. The action was taken in order to insure the unity of the Council through fair application of the rules for Council dialogue. The suspension was enacted by Florida Regional President Dudley and supported by NEFA President Sullivan. NLUS President Branch was informed. The immediate cause for the suspension was related: Ernie had asked for a meeting with President Korach, to be witnessed by Bill Dudley. Prior to the meeting, he told Bill Dudley that he wanted to be reinstated in his positions as VP of Military Affairs and liaison for the Farragut. Ernie had resigned these positions at the March 4^th Board of Directors Meeting and his resignation was accepted. At that time, he said he would continue his membership and with his donor library. When Ernie asked for the meeting, President Korach accepted with the proviso that the SANL positions had been filled and he would not reinstate Ernie in those positions. At the April 1^st meeting with SANL President Korach and FL Regional President Dudley, Ernie insisted on reinstatement in the positions he had resigned. He said that if he were not reinstated he would use his position in the Liberty Survivors Association and other associations to disparage and damage the honor and reputation of the Navy League. Ernie stated that he had and would continue to warn Commanding Officers of ships going into the eastern Mediterranean that they should be aware of a possible attack by Israeli defense forces. Ernie said that he was acting as a private citizen when he made these statements, but he was on these ships as a representative of SANL, [As a USS Liberty survivor first - jd] thus implying that the Navy League had information of endangerment to the ships.  President Korach felt the case couldn’t be made that he was acting as a private citizen in these circumstances, that his threats were shocking, and that serious ramifications would result if the action continued. [What utter nonsense. Just who is this person trying to fool? or impress - jd]
Using the Navy League as a platform to express personal opinions is against national and local by-laws. President Korach stated that Ernie’s regard for his USS LIBERTY Captain McGonagle had never been an issue [Yeah right -jd], but in all matters, SANL must carry out the aims and directives as established by the National BOD of NLUS. Personal and political matters must be expressed in another forum. President Korach related the events that led to the current state of affairs, stating Ernie’s experience in the June, 1967, Israeli attack on the Liberty and his resulting regard for honoring the memory of his Commanding Officer. President Korach repeated that this had never been an issue, but using the Navy League to express personal opinions is in violation of national and local by-laws of the Navy League. President Korach related instances during the past three years where Ernie had made objectionable anti-Israeli statements when speaking at Navy League functions. President Korach had discussed objections to this action with Ernie and with Past President Turowski, but the statements continued. The matter has escalated since the SANL meeting in February when Army LtCol Wolfe spoke. In the Q&A period after the meeting, Ernie began to talk about the threat of Israel, and President Korach silenced him. Discussions since that time resulted in Ernie’s suspension from the Navy League. In a recent response to his suspension, Ernie sent a letter to FL Regional President Dudley, expressing a desire to be reinstated, to continue being a loyal member of SANL, and to continue his work providing books for the Captain McGonagle Libraries on the SANL sponsored ships. Within the next five days, the two men will meet. The outcome of this meeting will be known at the next scheduled meeting. President Korach expressed hope that the situation will be resolved according to the charter and by-laws of SANL, then, at 6:15 pm, opened the floor for questions, saying that he, NEFA President Sullivan, and Regional President Dudley, would answer. Past President Turowski took the floor, declaring he thought the occasion was a set-up of Ernie Gallo, a patriot, and that the entire argument started over anti-Semitism. He felt the SANL BOD had not been consulted in this decision and declared he, himself, to be very angry over the situation, saying that Ernie was a good man who was not anti-Semitic and that President Korach was doing Ernie an injustice. He challenged the suspension because it had not been a decision of the SANL BOD, but had been made by FL Regional President Dudley. After Past President Turowski made personal statements to President Korach, resigned from the SANL finance board, and continued with statements unrelated to the current issue, members began protesting. Chaplain Marziani identified the issue as being that a member cannot hijack SANL for a personal platform and that we can’t hold personal grudges. He stated that Ernie was seventeen years old at the time of the Liberty incident and was severely wounded emotionally by it. He said that it was wrong to picture Israel as a current threat to the world. [A month later Israeli commandos stormed a multi-national humanitarian flotilla in international waters , killed 9 civilians including a US citizen shot 4 times, injuring 2 more -jd] As a qualified Christian minister [Zionist?-jd] and counselor, Chaplain Marziani offered personal counseling to help Ernie resolve his feelings and find healing in the Liberty matter. In a decision supported by SANL Judge Advocate Roth, as a suspended member, Ernie was not allowed to address the meeting and left the room.”

End

Let’s chuck the First Amendment and to hell with dissent and honesty and truth and turning the other cheek when we speak of Israel and speak of truths or ‘rock the boat’ with uncomfortable truths. We instead get intolerant, petty, spiteful and vindictive the Naval League of the United States for Israel way. -jd