Useless Navy Trivia for 8/4/10 ~ I am the only active duty U.S. Navy warship held captive by a hostile government ~

[Craig]

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...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlXiFpDoJ28

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bfp5QcbkyU

 

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

[imparis ship7 div 289 9/2]

this does make me mad and I hope none of the people who were walking on the ship as a site tour are US because that is like saying they don't care that this government has our property. We need more red necks in the white house to take back and defend what is ours. JMO

[Lydia (For B - The Sea is Ours)]

Craig - wooow imparis - right on!

[richsmom (Div 818 PIR 9/2/10)]

Craig Thank you so much for the extra insight that you offer. Some of us are brand new to the Navy life and if like me want to know as much information as we can. Non of it is trivial and all of it is GREATLY appreciated.

[Tisha Div 290 PIR 9/02]

love the history lesson. I agree with Richsmom, we are new to the NAVY life (not the military life, just navy life), and I can't get enough info. Thanks

[boymom3]

I remember this very well. My dad is retired Navy and was a CT. We were stationed in GITMO and my dad was scheduled to go asea on this very cruise of the Pueblo. Instead he opted to go back to college and get his commission. He stayed in the reserves and did get his commission and retired after 32 years. We knew a number of the brave sailors on the Pueblo and one, Elton Wood (Woodie) was our babysitter in Cuba. Here's a piece of additional trivia ... "Woodie" had to actually hand write the surrender, as the North Koreans said he had the neatest handwriting.

BTW, what ship and division is your sailor in?