b. 19/11/1925 Wichita, Kansas. d. 03/03/1999 Palm Springs, California.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 08-09/06/1967 International Waters.
William L McGonagle MOH
McGonagle was born November 19, 1925, in Wichita, Kansas. After attending secondary school, McGonagle attended the University of Southern California in which he participated in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program. In June 1947 he accepted a commission in the navy as an ensign. He was assigned to the destroyer USS Frank Knox and after that was posted to the minesweeper USS Partridge from 1947–1950. During the Korean War he served on the minesweeper USS Kite during the extensive operations that earned him and the other members of the crew a Presidential Unit Citation. From 1951 to 1966, he was assigned to various positions ashore and afloat, including commands of the fleet tug USS Mataco from 1957 to 1958 and the salvage ship USS Reclaimer from 1961 to 1963.
McGonagle took command of the USS Liberty in April 1966. On June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War between Israel and her Arab neighbors, the Liberty was attacked by Israeli forces while sailing in international waters in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Israeli government claims to this day that they thought that the ship was an Egyptian vessel. Israel relentlessly attacked the Liberty with jets, helicopters, and motor torpedo boats. McGonagle was severely wounded during the first air attack and although the bridge had sustained heavy damage he stayed and directed the defence of the ship, refusing to leave his post for medical attention. As the Israeli fighters continued their attack he manoeuvred his ship, directed its defence, supervised the control of flooding and fire, and saw to the care of the casualties. Captain McGonagle remained at his battle station and continued to command his ship for more than 17 hours. It was only after rendezvous with a United States destroyer that he relinquished personal control of the Liberty and permitted himself to be removed from the bridge. The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members including naval officers, seamen, two Marines, and a civilian, wounded 171, and severely damaged the ship. Although the ship had a 39 ft (12 m) wide by 24 ft (7.3 m) high hole and a twisted keel from a torpedo impact, the crew kept the ship afloat, and were able to leave the area under their own power. When the damage to the ship was assessed 821 rocket, shell, and machine-gun holes were found in the ship’s hull.
The Medal of Honor was presented to him, in secret, at the Washington Navy Yard on June 11, 1968 by the Secretary of the Navy, rather than at the White House by the President. This represents the only time a Medal of Honor recipient was awarded in such a manner. After being promoted to captain in October 1967 and recovering from his wounds he was given command of the new ammunition ship USS Kilauea. He then served as commanding officer of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit at the University of Oklahoma before retiring from active duty in 1974.
For several decades following the USS Liberty incident, he refused to publicly comment on the attack. He made occasional appearances with his surviving crew, such as on the 24th anniversary of the attack (in 1991) in a reunion at the White House. During his later years, including during the White House reunion, he suffered from cancer. On the 30th anniversary of the attack (in 1997), during a reunion held at Arlington National Cemetery, he finally called for an investigation and denounced Israel’s mistaken identity claim: “I think it’s about time that the state of Israel and the United States government provide the crew members of the Liberty and the rest of the American people the facts of what happened, and why…the Liberty was attacked 30 years ago today. For many years I have wanted to believe that the attack on the Liberty was pure error. It appears to me that it was not a pure case of mistaken identity. It was, on the other hand, gross incompetence and aggravated dereliction of duty on the part of many officers and men of the state of Israel.”
On March 3, 1999, he died in Palm Springs, California, and, following services at the Post Chapel at Fort Myer, Virginia, he was buried with full military honors on April 9, 1999, at Arlington National Cemetery with members of his USS Liberty crew in attendance.
MOH CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sailing in international waters, the Liberty was attacked without warning by a jet fighter aircraft and motor torpedo boats which inflicted many casualties among the crew and caused extreme damage to the ship. Although severely wounded during the first air attack, Capt. McGonagle remained at his battle station on the badly damaged bridge and, with full knowledge of the seriousness of his wounds, subordinated his own welfare to the safety and survival of his command. Steadfastly refusing any treatment which would take him away from his post, he calmly continued to exercise firm command of his ship. Despite continuous exposure to fire, he maneuvered his ship, directed its defense, supervised the control of flooding and fire, and saw to the care of the casualties. Capt. McGonagle’s extraordinary valor under these conditions inspired the surviving members of the Liberty’s crew, many of them seriously wounded, to heroic efforts to overcome the battle damage and keep the ship afloat. Subsequent to the attack, although in great pain and weak from loss of blood, Capt. McGonagle remained at his battle station and continued to command his ship for more than 17 hours. It was only after rendezvous with a U.S. destroyer that he relinquished personal control of the Liberty and permitted himself to be removed from the bridge. Even then, he refused much needed medical attention until convinced that the seriously wounded among his crew had been treated. Capt. McGonagle’s superb professionalism, courageous fighting spirit, and valiant leadership saved his ship and many lives. His actions sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
BURIAL LOCATION: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.
SECTION 34, GRAVE 208.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
