42 years ago today..

[CTMC(ret)]

I had friends aboard the Pueblo - I was stationed just north of Bellingham, WA when they were captured. I was on duty that a'noon and night and I can positively assure you that the Pueblo never entered North Korean waters until after their capture. They went through hell while imprisoned and said that every time they heard a big jet flying high overhead, they prayed for a blinding flash of light that never came. Hank was right, it all falls on the head of LBJ - so many errors!! But they did show their spunk with the "Hawaiian Good Luck charm" gesture - and, of course, they paid dearly for it! Lloyd Bucher was a good man and was scapegoated for the incompetence above him. He deserved better - although he was not court-martialed, his career was over and he never received a further promotion.

And, yes, I had friends on the Liberty, as well. Many more died, but it didn't take 11 months to end. Mostly, I more closely identify with the Pueblo because "I was there", so to speak.

And neither incident has ever been satisfactorily resolved, IMHO.