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ISBN 978-1-950034-96-3 (Paperback)

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Liberty’s Wounds

Copyright © 2020 by Jeremy Ämick

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Acknowledgments

As with any historical and literary endeavor, there have been scores of individuals and organizations that helped contribute through their knowledge, support or resources. First, I must thank the countless hours that Bryce and Lois Lockwood have graciously granted for interviews. Oftentimes, it must have seemed as if we were in a marathon of detailed questioning, frequently resulting in them having to dig into personal photos and document archives that were for years buried away in basement boxes. In addition, successful completion of this book would not have been possible absent the accessibility of valuable records that helped in my research, such as the now-unclassified National Security Agency interviews with Liberty survivors, in addition to the books that have been written by others who were victims of the assault on the ill-fated U.S. Navy vessel. I can now reflect upon and celebrate the achievement of the completion of Gunnery Sergeant Lockwood’s biography but, as with all such works, it was a team effort requiring the investment of many. Regardless of however large or small one’s contribution may have been to this biography; I remain ever grateful for the assistance and insight provided.

Dedication

To the memory of the thirty-four selfless men whose lives were taken during the attack on the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967. May your families someday find the closure that comes with the revelation of the truth behind the shameful episode in the annals of our nation’s Cold War history.

The author, Jeremy P. Ämick, left, pictured with Gunnery Sgt. (ret.) Bryce Lockwood at the Saline County Courthouse in Marshall, Missouri, on December 8, 2018. This day marked the first of dozens of interviews used in compiling Lockwood’s biography. Courtesy of Lois Lockwood

Introduction

Throughout the last few years, I have heavily invested much effort in researching military history, especially that which is in some way linked to the great state of Missouri, and then penning articles and stories regarding my discoveries so they can be preserved and shared with others. With so much time spent in the pursuit of this endeavor, I have received the blessing of learning a great deal about a broad range of military subjects.

When I was first introduced to Bryce Lockwood in the north-central farm community of Marshall, Missouri, in September 2017, someone briefly explained to me his association with the USS Liberty—a vessel attacked by Israeli jet fighters and torpedo boats several decades earlier. To be embarrassingly honest, despite what I proudly considered an in-depth knowledge of military history, when I first met Lockwood, I was somewhat at a loss as to the concentration of the historical significance whose presence was now standing before me.

We were attending a ceremony on the west lawn of the Saline County Courthouse in Marshall, where my friend, James Shipley, (whose biography I had written a year earlier to highlight his service as a mechanic with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II) was present to dedicate a memorial brick honoring the service of all Tuskegee Airmen. The brick was to be placed in a sidewalk outside the courthouse alongside a brick honoring those who had served aboard the USS Liberty. Following the ceremony, we crossed the street for a book signing, during which Mr. Shipley and I signed copies of his biography while Mr. Lockwood, who sat next to us with his wife, Lois, signed copies of a book about the attack on the Liberty, in which part of his military experience is described. While sitting next to one another, Lockwood and I had the opportunity to visit and then swapped business cards with our personal contact information.

Time passed on… as it is inclined to do, and several weeks later, I received an email from Lockwood in which he asked whether I might be interested in writing his biography. For me, not only was this an affirmation of the quality of effort I invested in writing the biography of James Shipley months earlier, but it was also a demonstration of the trust Lockwood had in my abilities to share the story of his complicated and captivating military journey. It did not take me long to verbally commit to his project, but I stressed to the former Marine that I must first get a couple of other book projects off my plate, the first of which was the biography of the late Major General Don D. Pittman. Lockwood bluntly replied, “It’s been fifty years [since the USS Liberty incident]… so a little bit more of a wait isn’t going to hurt anything.”

Finishing off these projects in October 2018, I took a few weeks off to gather my thoughts and regain a foothold in my present circumstances, charting out the course of my upcoming writing endeavors. Finally, in late November, I contacted Lockwood and informed him that I was ready to begin the process of interviews that I would use to help compile his story in a linear fashion. Our friend, Charlie Guthrie, soon invited us to another event that was to be held at the Saline County Courthouse on December 7, 2018, in honor of the seventy-seventh anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Both Lockwood and I were to be special guests at the ceremony and we agreed to make the trip there together. Early that morning, Lockwood and his wife picked me up at my home and, while he drove us the hour-and-half north, I asked him an endless list of questions about his youth while scribbling his responses upon my wide-ruled writing pad. During our return trip, the same process took place.

The next several months included sporadic visits when I would drive to his home nearly two hours away in Strafford, Missouri, and sit for several hours not only to ask questions about his life experiences but also to sift through various documents and scan countless photographs for potential inclusion in the biography. In addition, during the time that passed between these visits/interviews, many of my questions were answered by utilizing the grand technology of texting with our phones. As an unexpected blessing, the book seemed to come together rather seamlessly without any major hiccups or complications.

I must admit, as has been the case with those I have written about previously, the story of his life and military service took second seat to the friendship that we have developed throughout the last couple of years. My friend, Bryce Lockwood, is a humble individual who has amassed a collection of amazing encounters during his military service and subsequent careers, and it has truly been an honor to have been provided the time to listen and absorb some of the wisdom of his experiences. My cardinal wish is that I have been able to, in some small fashion, introduce the public to just a glimmer of what he has accomplished throughout his life. He may not consider himself a hero but I think that you will find that his story speaks for itself and reveals a life that bears witness to several fascinating incidents that deserve to be preserved and celebrated by subsequent generations.

His is a story centered on the events of June 8, 1967, during which an incident unfolded in the height of the Cold War between nations long considered allies and which, I have discovered, has been the basis for many politically charged and heated debates. While writing this book, I have encountered those who have encouraged me to uncover what they believe to have been criminal and deadly intent by the Israeli government. On the contrary, others have stressed that it was an accident that should simply be tucked away in the forgotten pages of history—a wound between two nations that should be given the opportunity to heal absent the assignment of blame. One thing that can be agreed upon is there has been—and continues to be—much speculation on the basis for the attack on the Liberty.

The intent of this book is not to be contentious or controversial nor to serve as a means to vilify Israel; conversely, it is not presented in a manner to diminish the suffering of those who were victims of the attack. The principal foundation of this work is to present the facts of the events that unfolded that day as perceived by Lockwood. These pages are not only the unvarnished account of one man who endured the living hell that took place during the assault but also a fascinating story of military service that began years earlier and carried forth into the Vietnam War and beyond. Many still seek answers regarding the details surrounding the attack on the Liberty, Lockwood included; however, this biography will by no means provide any revelations that have not already been debated ad nauseam. It is the story of a man… a Marine, who raised his right hand and took an oath to serve his country. It is a sequence of fascinating events that carried him through many unique aspects of our nation’s Cold War with Russia, which then transitioned into Vietnam. Most important, it is the story of my friend, Bryce Lockwood, presented to you in his bold, unembellished manner, which captures a small part of one man’s American military experience. It is my pleasure to present to you Liberty’s Wounds.

Jeremy P. Ämick

Russellville, Missouri

January 2019