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Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 23:40:04 EST

Hello Crewmembers!

I am writing this to both the President and webmaster.
I was an Army Security Agency vet based in Taiwan at the time of your capture. I remember well sitting at my "pos" in a shack encircled by 25 monopoles. I was in radio DF, and thinking to myself that our counterparts in Korea must be working "overtime" after the incident. Little did I know I myself would be in Korea only days later! Our NCOIC called us into the ops building and asked for volunteers! ..... Okay, so pick a number between 1 and 10... I picked 3 and my buddy from Vietnam picked 5 and off we went. two E-4's (me and Gussie) two E-5's and an E-7 in charge.

Enroute to Korea we stopped at Okinawa and picked up 5 more "volunteers" for a total of 10 to help out the effort at Camp Humphries near Pyong taek (sp). They were indeed working 12 and 12 but apparently liked that and were not to happy about going back to 3 rotating 8 hour shifts! I remember working the report desk trying to receive messages back from the outstations and the horrible signals covered with so much noise. On leaving taiwan I dropped my folks a short note I was "headed for Korea" Didn't take any stationary with me and after a few weeks of nil heard they had the Red Cross after me as they knew I was into some sort of "undercover" work myself and had suspitions I may have somehow been involved in this incident.

I live very near Boys Town, NEbraska but everytime I have heard about the Commanders visits it has been on TV and after the fact. Would indeed like to shake his hand and ALL the crew members for that matter! I was looking through the list and see there is one guy from Nebraska City, so will give him a hollar! I have read the Commanders book and also one other one written by the officer from St. Louis I believe.

Also have in my possession a book called "The Pueblo Surrender" by Robert Liston. Are you familiar with that book? He broaches some real off the wall ideas about the why and why not as far as the support or non-support of your plight by the US Government. Any comments on that book if you are aware of it? Just wondering.

I salute all of you who were submitted to inhuman atrocities inflicted on you. I did managed to weather the Vietnam war living in small outposts and was under some types of enemy fire at times .... but have no clue as to what you all must have gone through as captives of the North Koreans. I understand a member of your crew, not sure of his name, has consented to join a Chat Session scheduled sometime in January for members of our newly formed National Army Security Assoc. Looking forward to that and any correspondence you care to reply to me. Saying "thanks" for your service just doesn't ring true ... there must be a better word.

All for now .

Vern Greunke

Date: Sun, 06 Jan 1999 22:38:27 +1200

Dear Sir,

My name is Stephan Notarianni, I live and work at the US Army Missile Range on Kwajalein Atoll, in the Marshall Islands, Im a US Dept Of Energy Employee. I'm 34 y.o, born and raised in France, now a Naturalized US Citizen. What brings me here now to write this few words, is a a personnal fascination that I have with the USS Pueblo and the ordeal encountered by its fine crew on that fatefull January 23rd 1968.I came across this unknown story(to me) in a book store when I purchased The Pueblo Surrender, by Liston after reading this book, I wanted to know more, so many things were so incredible that I went on a "discovery Journey", I've read all the books but the one from Lt Steve Harris Mother. I' m simply Flabergasted that One vent, One Crew, One Ship can lead to so many different interpretations of what happened on 1/23, The Months in Captivity are less of a controversy, it appears. That fact alone is captivating to me. I'm not very Familiar with the aftermath and the return of the crew, only with what has been written ion the books that I've read.

I found your web page a little over an hour ago, I wanted to write you to let you know how much I, as an individual Citizen, appreciate and thank you for this page, You belong to a fine & courageous group of People. I don't really know at this point how much more I could learn about the USS Pueblo capture , or at least what is permissible to learn 30 years later. I've heard that a movie / documentary was made, I've been unable to this day to find a title, if you know of such a film, could you please let me know.

I've gone to the different pages of your Web site, and of course find all trully interesting and bery well made.

I hope that I'm not being intrusive, it is just a fascinating subject for me

Hope to hear from you

Best to all of you, God Bless

Stephan Notarianni
US Army Kwajalein Atoll

Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 03:48:31 EST
Nice to see a website like this one. I attended the POW medal award ceremonies in 1990 where I met Pete Bucher and his wife Rose. Pete and Rose invited me to their home in Poway to spend the day after we had spoken for about an hour after the cermonies. I was Chief, Intelligence Branch, Military Intelligence Division, AC of S, G-2, Hqs, 8th US Army when the USS PUEBLO was seized on 23Jan68. A few days before the BLUE HOUSE RAID had ocurred. Thus there were 2 major incidents... acts of war... in one week. We had intel repts from NK POLLITBURO that NK was going to start seconed war front when US troop levels reached 500K in Vietnam. I and Bruce K Grant coauthored a memo 5 days before BLUE HOUSE RAID and at least one week before PUEBLO was seized that was used to put UNC on higher alert status. The memo subject matter was elements of RECON BUREAU (NK assassination teams) were coming into SK. Hindsight is 20/20.

At the time I wanted to "backchannel" to J-2 down the hall. My supervisor wanted to go through channels with the memo. In the end, he said I was right and we should not have relied on official channels but walked the memo up the hall to J-2. The immediate response to the seizure was consideration of a tactical nuke airburst over WONSAN to deny access to the PUEBLO. I wrote an 8 point memo: 5 against, 3 for the airburst tact nuke. The memo went out under CINC, UNC signature unchanged. Then we began updating target lists and outlined the contingency plan for nuclear weapons use in the event NK miscalculated and did attack across the DMZ. Knowing what was at stake and NK not knowing and perhaps might miscalculate we leaked it to the CHICOM's what was at stake: there would be a nuclear weapons response if NK came across the DMZ. Tet occurred shortly thereafter.

We also leaked that if any of the PUEBLO crew were executed or killed we would also use nukes as that would be an act of war even greater than the seizure of the PUEBLO. We truly thought at the time that coupled with the POLITUBURO report that a second front was about to open up. We were 30% TOE and the only way we could defend ourselves was with nukes. It was my understanding that the inital request and idea for airburst tact nuke came down the pipeline from President Johnson. I see you have a list of books on the website. I have some already and will obtain the others. Rose and Pete have encouraged me to write about the experience I had. I have started but am worried there is much classified
although it now over 30 years later.

Great website.

Bob Liskey

Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 20:22:34 EST

Sir,

It is an Honor for me to be able to email you, The web site is truly amazing and a fine tribute to all who served and are truly unsung heroes. I am a 19 year member of the Coast Guard and would like to ask a question of you if you have e minute. I am very interested in the Pueblo Incident which I find a miscarrige of history not to be more widely know of by others in my office! But my question is this I am a collector of historical autographs and wonder if it is possible to email the others and ask for a response to a specific question ( the same to be answered by all willing ) and see if they might mail there answer and autograph to me. I will reimburse for the postage . Can you give me a feel if this may be possible or would it be to intrusive? I do wish to hear your story first hand , but do not to be a bother to you all. The question I would ask is this Can you tell me your thoughts as you took that final walk across the bridge to freedom? Thanks for your time and if you wish please email an address and I will send an SASE for your response. Thanks again and God Bless you and Yours

Bm2 Louis R Reeves
UCSG MSO Wilmington

Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 21:37:07 EST

I'm Pat McNelly and I was a photo interpreter with G2 8th Army during your last four months of captivity. I enlisted just days after the Pueblo was taken. I have a few interesting stories to tell. It will be nice to exchange stories.

Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 23:05:48 -0600

TO THE CREW OF USS PUEBLO:
I watched the documentary about your ordeal on The History Channel tonight. Once again I was saddened for you and infuriated by the Navy's abandoning you and then stabbing you in the back when you returned. At the beginning of the program, Cmdr Bucher said USS Enterprise was within 45 air minutes of you, yet did not respond to your SOS. At the time, I was MM2 Holton, serving in Enterprise. The evening of your capture, our Captain told us of your capture and that we were steaming for North Korean waters. I, and the rest of the crew, expected we would be in combat within a short time.

A week or so later, as we steamed off the coast of North Korea, I went to the 013 level to look around. What I saw astonished me. It was like a picture from WWII. There were ships from horizon to horizon. Aircraft carriers, helicopter carriers, cruisers, oilers, destroyers, and replenishment ships. There had to have been more than 75 ships. I thought we were getting an attack and invasion force together to come get you. I was sure the United States would give an ultimatum to North Korea to give you back or we would pound them into dust until they did.

After about three weeks of steaming north and south up and down the coast, we were told we were leaving the area. I can tell you that every man in Enterprise was shocked, amazed, and ashamed at what we were doing. We were abandoning to your fate. That was the day I lost my faith in the Navy. I had thought about doing 20. Those thoughts were gone. All I wanted to do was get out. I felt dirty and ashmed. I talked with crew members of other ships in Subic. They felt the same way that we of Enterprise did. To a man, no one could believe we deserted you.

When we returned to the States, Pueblo was a frequent topic of conversation. We all knew it could have been us, instead of you, as POWs. We just could not understand why the Navy did not let us come to your aid. About a year later, when North Korea shot down the Navy reconnaissance plane, I was serving in Lynde McCormick DDG-8. We steamed to answer a distress call from a freighter. As we closed in we were called to general quarters. The distress call was a trick, and we were being attacked by North Korean gunboats. The Captain told us we were going to haul ass. I am sure I was not the only man who thought of Pueblo when the Captain said "North Korean gunboats". I'm sure the Captain hauled ass, because he was afraid what happened to you might happen to us.

I got out of the Navy in 1970. Although I and others did not suffer with you, you were in our thoughts and prayers during the time of your captivity and still are these many years later. Seeing the documentary again brought back the feelings of shame that I felt 30 years ago when we abandoned you. To this day, I have not forgiven the Navy for what they did to you. From the crew interviews I can see that some of you still have a hard time dealing with your capture, captivity, abandonment and betrayal by the Navy.

One of you said you had never been told that you did your duty as best you could and that the Navy was proud of you. I cannot speak for the Navy, but I can speak for tens of thousands of your shipmates stationed throughout the world at the time of your ordeal. We know what you went through. We know why you signed the false confessions. We know how you survived only to come home to face an embarrassed and ungrateful Navy. That they would put you and your Captain in front of a Board of Inquiry before you had a chance to decompress and heal yourselves from your experience is shameful.

The Navy was embarrassed. The Navy should have been embarrassed. I am sure that at least some of those who sought to cover their own asses at your expense have spent the last 30 years living in their own private hell, knowing they sinned against you, and knowing the enormity of their crime. Every time they hear the beginning strains of "Eternal Father, strong to save", I am sure in their hearts they call out to God for forgiveness for what they did to you. They screwed you over and they know it. They know we know it. And, they know God knows it. I hope that adds to their misery and shame.

On behalf of all your Navy comrades, I want to thank you all for a job well
done.

Sincerely,
Gerald A. Holton

April 1, 1999

I was at Taegu (K-2) Air Base, Republic of Korea, shortly after the Pueblo was seized. Only comment I have to add is that the US government (aka United Nations Command/United States Forces Korea/Eighth United States Army, UNC/USFK/EUSA) ordered US military personnel to block the runways to prevent ROK Air Force units from launching in response. The Republic of Korea was fully prepared to go to war with the DPRK and were held in check only by our intervention. Strange that the ROK's had more cajones than we did.....then again, in retrospect, maybe it's not so strange.

Larry W. Kerr
.....POW-MIA never have a nice day.
.....Nos Ducemos Semper!

Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 00:45:04 -0500

Good to see the USS Pueblo remembered, my brother William (Scabby) Scarborough was with the crew. Glad to know he's not forgotten. May God bless each of you.

Johnny Scarborough
Anderson South Carolina

Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 17:00:40 -0400

++++
Wow! Have just spent well over an hour looking the site over,
and still haven't visited every nook and cranny! What a fantastic
job! A what a tremendous job of work! You guys can be really
proud of that page! Top-notch, first-class, a-one, and professional.
It's nice to know that the LIBERTY and the PUEBLO incidents are
going to make a dent in history, in spite of all the cover-up
efforts by our government. Congratulations!

John Gidusko

Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 21:10:58 EDT

My name is James M. Burkhalter, I am a Builder First Class in the U.S.Navy Seabees. Because of one of your Shipmates "CT2 Don Mcclaren" I joined the Navy, he is a step-uncle of mine and had a great influence upon my choice to join the Navy. I am very happy that you have finally gotten thesite up and running, you and you shipmates deserve more than the medals that our country have given you, you have earned my respect and praise.

James M. Burkhalter

BU1 USN

Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 09:52:52 EDT

Thanks for all the great work you guys put in to make this site. As a former CTR on active duty when Pueblo was seized, I have always been proud of you guys and continue to be so. Thanks,

Bill Hildebrand
Colorado Springs

Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 11:40:38 EDT

what a site. I was 9 years old when the incident occurred. I now have a better understanding of the matter. I salute the men who endured 11 months of hell on earth. Thanks to this site, I hope no one will ever forget what happened, or the bravery these men showed us.

Memorial Day weekend 1999

Dear Sirs:

I want to take a moment to tell you... I am so happy you are all home safe and sound. I personally believe you where all given a bum deal in the first place and your experiences in North Korea should have never have happened.

God Bless you all.
From a former Combat Marine of Viet Nam 1965-66
Larry Nelson

Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 22:25:23 -0400

You mentioned this web site would be forthcoming and we both appreciate your forwarding it to us. I sat down to read the information and after two hours I find I am still unable to pull myself away. You and the others involved have done a marvelous job and have presented many sides and personal stories that bring the event to life. Best Wishes.
Banning Ingram, Brookeville, Maryland.

This was a GREAT link. I was a CT (Communications Technician). I was stationed at Naval Secuity Group Skaggs Island, CA (North San Francisco Bay) when the USS Pueblo was captured and when the crewmembers were released. Personnel from NSGA Skaggs Island went TAD to debrief the crewmembers. After I got out in 1974, I personnally meet CDR Schumacker, who lives here in St. Louis, and we briefly spoke about the "Spooks" . ./John

Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 22:11:17 EDT

My name is Alan K. MacKay, and I was an Air Traffic Controller at Kimpo for two years 4/68 to 4/70. My former wife ANC Lt. Darlene MacKay was one of the nurses that met the crew at Freedom Bridge, and the fruitcake that you ate was a Christmas gift from my mother and grandmother that they sent to us for the holidays. By the time I got back stateside in April of 1970, the Pueblo was old news. It was a big day for me to see you guys climb aboard the two C-141's. I took a few B/W photographs that I developed myself on base, and still have a few color snapshots that I took. When the crew was released at Freedom Bridge one of the crew asked me if I had a cigarette, but I had quit a few weeks before that, and regretfully had to say that I didn't have any. After you all had climbed aboard the aircraft, I walked back to the radar unit and actually vectored both aircraft out of the area. By looking at your last reunion photo, all of you seem to have gained a lot of weight since December 1968. I would certainly love to hear from some of the men, and would gladly share the photographs with the association. I hope I can find them, as they have been packed away for thirty years. One good thing about the Pueblo.....I had orders to go to Phu Cat Air Base in Viet Nam, but when the Pueblo was captured, my orders were modified and I went to Korea instead. My wife got there in August of 1968 and took care of the crew at the 121 Evac hospital. So much for my life story... Best wishes to you all.
Alan K. MacKay
Weston, Fl

Date: Mon, 14 Jun 1999 20:34:57 -0700

The site is EXCELLENT. I could not have done better -- or as well.

Allen Hemphill

Date Sat, 19 Jun 1999 084850 EDT

From 1967-70, I was a broadcast journalist with the American Forces Korea Network (AFKN) in Seoul. I was stationed near the end of the Bridge of No Return, when you and your shipmates were released, and later helped broadcast Capt Bucher's first press conference from the NCO club. After recently stumbling upon the USS Pueblo website, I began searching thru closets of "stuff" and have found one reel-to-reel audio tape of some of our AFKN radio coverage of the event. The tape was recorded as an "aircheck" and unfortunately is at the extremely slow speed of 1-7/8 i.p.s. (However, it can be played on any stero tape deck with standard speed selections--1-7/8, 3-3/4, 7-1/2 and it is quite clear and understandable. The tape includes - the crew departure from the Joint Security Area and helicopter arrival at the 121st Med Evac hospital. - Cdr. Bucher's press conference at Panmunjom - Adm Rosenburg's remarks to the press on 24 Dec prior to your departure from South Korea. - the entire memorial service for Duane Hodges, held at Kimpo Air Base - And your departure from Kimpo. If the USS Pueblo Veterans Association would be interested in having this tape for your historical record, please let me know where I can send it.

Sincerely,
Ric Sitler, MSG, U.S. Army (ret)

Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 06:25:54 EDT

I had the honor of being a part of the debriefing team that worked with you men at Balboa Naval Hospital. I would like to commend each and every one of you for your service to our country. You were indeed Heros, made a great sacrifice and were unfairly treated by this country. Thank You!

Rick Darsey, CTRC, USN, Ret.