This is just a short note to pay my respect to you and the rest of the crew of the USS Pueblo. I am an avid reader of military history, especially that dealing with prisoners of war. I am also a US Navy veteran. I have read commander Bucher's book several times. It is a remarkable story. This evening while watching television I had the opportunity to view a special on the USS Pueblo incident.

Due to time constraints the program only scratched the surface, however through my reading I know a more complete picture. At the end of the program I watched Cdr. Bucher say "I want to be remembered as a naval officer who did his best." This was a moving statement. This brings to mind a quote from president Theodore Roosevelt:"Do the best that you can, with what you have, where you are." I would have to say that not only Cdr. Bucher did this, but the entire crew.

You will all be remembered as true American heroes that served faithfully during an extremely difficult time. You all displayed courage in your actions. Courage that, in this day and age, is sorely absent in the behavior of our elected officials and military leaders. To the officers and crew of the USS Pueblo: Thank you for your service, dedication, and devotion to our country and our freedom!!!!

Sincerely,
Nick Copelin
Tucson, AZ.

Sir,

I was a very young man and stationed in Korea when the USS pueblo was taken by the North. We went on high alert and stayed there for some time. As I recall, I was only 19 years old at the time but vividly remember the incident. I salute the crew and Captain for their strength and courage through out these many years.

Norman Wallace
MSG U.S. Army (ret)

Gentlemen,

I am a Marine SSgt serving in the intelligence field stationed at
Camp Pendleton, having just returned from a deployment in the Persian
Gulf. I had heard about the Pueblo incident before but I just finished
watching your story on the History Channel. I wish I had the words to
tell you what I think of all of you.

The men of the Pueblo are all heroes, to endure the hardships of torture and confinement and return with your heads held high and still holding the high standards that
makes the United Naval service the greatest in the world. I feel it is
an honor for me not only to hear your story and view your web site but
to email you this letter and express my pride. The military is built on
men such as yourselves. I hope that someday I will be able to meet some
of you and deliver my thanks in person.

Semper Fi'
Karl M. Allwerdt
SSgt USMC

Camp Pendleton, CA

Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 20:23:05 -0500

Dear Sirs,

just finished watching the story of the Pueblo on the History channel. I can only wonder if I would have the strength to conduct myself in such fashion in such a situation. As a military officer, your story would give me added strength to persevere knowing that others have persevered and survived similar circumstances.

In addition, your example demonstrates how important an officer's conduct is to maintaining the morale of his troops under ALL circumstances. Furthermore, given an imperfect situation, I believe that all of you made the best decisions possible given the options available. I salute you. Please share my note with Commander Bucher and feel free to share my note with your fine organization.

Sincerely,
Captain Paul Schowalter
Louisiana Air National Guard
Shaw AFB, SC

Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 22:35:34 -0700 (PDT)

To all the men of the Pueblo, even after all these years, I would like
you to know that a lot of Americans have not forgotten your sacrifice. I
believe your heroism will be remembered long after the self serving navy
officials that were willing to sacrifice you are gone.

I am not a navy man , I was a USAF pilot many years ago but I cannot
abide the way our military people can be abused in this manner by our
own military leaders for political purposes and furtherance of their
own careers. It is my opinion and that of many of my colleagues that
they are all cowards and should be recognized as such.

In closing I can only say in the navy vernacular WELL DONE and thank
you.

Glen Holloway

Date July 22nd 1999

I am writing to you in reguards to your Pueblo Veterans Association web site. I recently read "Bucher: My Story" and "The Last Voyage of the Pueblo". Unbelievably, I am a veteran of the Navy myself and had never heard of the Pueblo incident. I just happened to see the books while at the library a few weeks back and picked them up out of curiosity.

I won't even pretend that I could begin to imagine what the whole ordeal must have been like for you all. I will tell you that while reading of your nightmare, I found myself crying, cringing, laughing, and getting furious; but mostly I was very proud that I had worn the same uniform you all had worn (with a few alterations of course). In doing further research, I came across your web page. ...know that I will NEVER forget the Pueblo... nor the sacrifices that her crew and their families had to make.
Sincerely,

Debbie Gibbons

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 16:30:59 -0500

First of all let me introduce myself...I am Greg Hartigan and currently the Special Projects Chairman @ Bell Post 1820 VFW in Temple, Texas. I am the immediate Past Commander of the Post also. On January 23rd., 1968 I was CTO3 Hartigan @ PCRS San Miguel working the Service Desk. All your XCRITICS came through us from Japan. Their circuit with Hawaii was out. By the way, all your stuff was switched "post haste" and the RZ's came back within about a minute.

If I can recall correctly, the 5th. Air Force in Japan was ready to come and get you guys...but they never got the word from Washington. Besides, all of you probably would have been killed. If you would like to talk about it, I'll give you all my phone numbers at the end of this writing. The biggest things I can remember about that day was how disappointed we all were that nothing was done and at one point I was about 2 to 4 hours behind on "ZZ" ZES-2' about you guys. Most all of us worked about half of the next shift just trying to get caught up and making sure everything was done properly (at least I know I did). The overall mood was really "pissed" and given the opportunity, WE would have come ourselves if somebody would have asked. You may have been out there and thought you guys were all alone, but you weren't, and we did everything we could to make sure nothing got screwed up.

I grew up in a navy family and this was the topic of passionate discussion many times in my family; I served on a U.S. Navy destroyer as a comm tech at the height of Walkers' betrayal; I have studied the available materials including books, films, documentaries and articles. I've heard every opinion of the incident and I have my own opinion. It infuriates and shames me that my government has STILL not apologized to the captain and crew of this vessel.

So as a U.S. citizen, 'Io' apologize to the surviving crew members on behalf of the people of the United States. History will place you very high on the list of heroes our military has offered up to circumstance and left forsaken by the brass to cover themselves and their criminal negligence. I know that is no consolation to your pain but rest assured, history WILL resolve itself to your undeniable place as true heroes in the long history of brave Americans who did their duty and served with distinction. For what it's worth, I salute the brave captain and crew of the U.S.S. Pueblo. Rest assured... you men are heroes.

John Scairpon
Concerned U.S. Citizen

Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 21:51:32 -0700

The crew of the USS Pueblo were heroes for undergoing their ordeal in the face of overwhelming odds. I salute your efforts to create a website recognizing their sacrifices.

Additional comments: The book that claims the US intelligence community deliberately had the ship captured by the communists is irresponsible and implausible. This book should be condemned strongly in the book section of your site.

Secondly, and perhaps this is a minor point 30 years later, does anyone know what eventually became of the ship? The Pueblo incident always fascinated me. The Navy, I feel, bears the brunt of the blame for putting an-ill equipped vessel in such a vulnerable position. Of course the Navy bureaucracy did its best to shift the blame...

Regarding North Korea, I've always felt that we owed them a good hard retaliatory strike, similar to what was done to Libya in the '80s. I say this in light of the EC-121 shootdown, the hacking to death of two US army officers at the DMZ in the mid-70s and other incidents. Our experience in the Korean War showed that dealing with them harshly is the only thing that tames their aggression. I don't think our current policy toward North Korea is effective. My opinion: let 'em starve.

Thank you again for your commendable efforts.
Mike Ruccolo

My name is Harry Larrabee Sr, TSgt, USAF(Ret) and I was stationed with the 6922 Security Wing (United States Air Force Security Service) at Clark Air Base. About 1.5 hours after the ship was taken over by the North Koreans another Air Force Sgt and myself borded an Air Force C-154 with two I Vans (intercept vans with R390A recievers and PT-6 recorders) and two S-141 Shelters (something like a COMSEC Van equipped to monitor LF, HF, VHF and UHF) tool boxes over stuffe with parts to repair R-390s and PT-6s for Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea. Upon our arrival sometime after midnight we set up the two S-141 shelters and the I Vans were set up the next day inside the compound on Hill 179 which housed the 6922 SW Det 2. For the next 60 days we upgraded the existing operations by rebuilding the receivers, recorders and TTY machines while some of the operations was moved to the I Vans. Each van was made up from 30(?) foot trailers which had both antenna and power inputs. While this was going on the other Sgt and I also pulled 24 a day stand-by on the S-141 shelters is ensure thier operation. I do remember about 3 days after our arrival at Osan a North Korean Mig-21 flew from the DMZ to Osan Air Base and buzzed the base runway twice before heading back north. I myself was in one of the S-141 Shelters at the time talking with the operator at the time, this operator was listening to the Mig talking back to its base. We didn't realize at the time the aircraft was so close untill we could hear a jet that didn't sound like the F-105s that was stationed at Osan. When we exited the van this when we watched the Mig buzz the base. At this time neither the U S Forces; meaning Air Force, Army, or Navy; or the ROKs had anthing that could defend against the Mig. If memory serves me correctly about three days latter the Air Force had 9 F-106 all weather fighter/intercepters assigned to the base. We stayed with the 6922 Det 2 for 10 months supporting the mission for NSA and USAFSS. When I got on the operations floor for the first time I did notice a "X" off the East side of North Korea showing the position of the U S S Pueblo at the time of bording, this "X" was 15 miles from the coast. Our total mission the whole time was to support "Electronic Intelligence" for NSA, USAFSS, USA, and the USN regarding the Pueblo and the North Korean activity at the time. Since it took so long for the crew members to be released I really don't know how much our intelligence effort helped. While at Osan Air Base there was also a EC-121 that used to land there every so offten. This is the same EC-121 that was shot down in the Yellow Sea in April 1969, the same one that had holes in the tail section when it was flown into Osan while I was there. Unfortunately Viet Nam was in full gear so I don't really feel that the United States was in a good position to do anything with North Korea. In fact I also feel that had the North Koreans crossed the 38th Parallel I would be eating rice now and not the nice home cooked meals that I'm used too.

Hope the above history from the U S Air Force side of the house was of some help to you.

Harry Larrabee Sr, TSgt, USAF Retired

Date: Thu, 05 Aug 1999 18:21:33 -0700

Dear Sir:
I just found out about this site last week. There was an article in the
Omaha World Herald newspaper about the Pueblo incident. I really
appreciate your site. Havn't finished reading it all yet, but will be
back. It is of special interest to me as I was highly fried about the
whole thing when it occurred. OWH said the Pueblo was still afloat in
N. Korea. Wouldn't it be a blast to go take it back!!!
In Appreciation,
Thomas M.(Marv) Golson
CT2, active duty ended 25Jan1962

Date: Tue, 10 Aug 1999 04:45:10 EDT

Hi there. When you left Yokosuka, on either December 21st or January 5th, I was one of the deck apes sent to cast off your lines. I believe it was more likely to have been the January 5th date, because we had just returned from Vietnam in time for Christmas. My ship, the Washoe Country (LST 1165) sent over about six of us to send you on your way, because your ship was tied up not far from our berth at pier 5.

I don't remember which day it was for sure, but I do remember clearly the sadness that I felt when I heard that you had been captured, and that we (the US military) wasn't going to get you back right away. I'm glad that you eventually regained your freedom. I'm sorry that it took so long.

Ed

Wed, 11 Aug 1999 14:13:04 -0400 (EDT)

This is of very little consequence when looking at the big picture, but I have the following to share with you: I was in transit at the North Island NAS awaiting the USS Constellation to return from a West PAC cruise when your Pueblo crew was returned to the states. I was just an Airman right out of boot camp and was selected to perform various duties at the North Island NAS until my ship arrived. Your crew was temporally placed in a barracks at North Island for some time in which I was assigned the task of providing security, mostly fire watch during night hours. I can remember talking to a few of you but most of your crew was very reserve and did not talk to many outside of the Pueblo crew members. I can also remember the blank stares and the crews general condition that reminded me of the old W.W.II films taken of those interned in Nazi concentration camps. I can also remember having the shit scared out of me when some of your crew members would wakeup in the middle of the night in total horror. I don't know if they thought I was a North Korean guard or what, but I had no trouble staying awake during my watch. After my duty on the USS Constellation I was sent to Saigon as a crew chief on a Navy CH-46 helicopter. When ever I had thoughts of being captured by the North Vietnamese, should we be shotdown, I thought of your crew and their courage and wondered if I could hack it. Hope all is well; Pat Calhoun

Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 19:11:45 EDT

I was a CT1 stationed at Ft. Meade when the crew was released. There were many of us who were flown to San Diego to assist in the debriefing. I transcribed hours of taped interviews of various crew members. The stories I heard will stay with me the rest of my life. As is frequently the case in politics and the military, the crew was screwed at every turn, including after their return.Each and every one of you was a hero and deserve better than you got.
Joe Thomas

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 20:16:23 -0400

Hello,
My name is Donald Booth.  I was in the Navy from 1966 thru 1972 serving in the Naval Security Group for the duration.  I was stationed in Cuba at GTMO during the time that the Pueblo was making her maiden voyage in the area of North Korean waters.  I was completing my tour in GTMO and orders were being prepared for me to go aboard the Pueblo to be caught out of Yokosuka, Japan.  I worked on the same WLR equipments in Cuba with CTM1 Baily, who was aboard the Pueblo.  Due to the ship being taken by North Korea, I was sent to Japan to be stationed at Kamiseya, where I stayed for 26 months.  We were not allowed to talk of or mention the Pueblo, nor was I allowed to meet Commander Bucher when he came to Yokosuka.  I obtained copies of all the books written by the crew and Commander Bucher, but I have never been able to find the logo patch which is displayed in this representation.  If I could receive any assistance in acquiring a source for this patch, I would greatly appreciate it.  I really appreciate the efforts all of you put into this representation.  I have found that being with the Security Group and other military/government commitments I have made for many years following my active military service, all is not as it appears.  I hope to always keep the little knowledge of the Pueblo, the Liberty, and other incidents acute in my memory.  Thank you again for your participation in keeping the memory of the Pueblo with us.
Donald J. Booth    

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 19:57:24 -0600

Howdy,
My name is Dave Blade, and I'm a retired CTACM living in Helena
Montana. I joined the Navy in 1973 from Hamilton Montana, out of the
recruiting office in Missoula. My recruiter was a Chief Watson, but I
remember talking for quite a while with a 1st Class CT (Maybe an O
Brancher?) who told me that I should make it clear to the classification
folks that I wanted to be a CT. Any chance that was you?
I just wanted to say I was glad to come across your group's web
page, especially after seeing the fine job the Liberty guys have done on
theirs. I was disappointed to see the 30th anniversary of the Pueblo and
Liberty incidents pass with no mention from the Navy or the Press.
Excuse my intrusion if I have mistaken you for somebody else, and
congrats again on this website.
Cheers,
Dave

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 23:49:35 -0800

I was in grade school while you folks were held captive and never
experienced Vietnam war. How was life like after the first six years of
your release? I was always curious as to how different life would be
like if I went thru a horrible ordeal like you did. Is being held
captive in North Korea worse than the worst prison in America?

Frederick Hokama

Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 22:13:46 -0400

Well-done website.
Regards,
David F. Winkler, Ph.D.
Naval Historical Foundation
Washington DC

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1999 20:00:23 -0400

Dear Sir,

I was 26 years old when the Pueblo was captured. I am trying to find some information on the public information and official announcement that was made by the US government to get the Pueblo back. Could you refer me to a web site that would give me this information. Thank you for your heroic service to our country!

Bruce Roberts

Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 14:46:17 +0000

Subject: History of the USS Pueblo

Hello, the Pueblo Veteran's Association

My name is Joe Barr, ex-CT1, USN, 1963-1970. I was very nearly one of you. While stationed at NAVCOMMSTAHONO, an "opportunity" to go TAD aboard the Pueblo for 90 days arose. At this point, I presume she was still on the West Coast. It was some weeks before she sailed into Pearl Harbor on the way to WESTPAC. I volunteered for the mission and was excited about the chance to go aboard. But a couple of weeks prior to the scheduled TAD, NAVSECGRU decided to change the opportunity to a permanent change of station instead of simply TAD. With a wife and baby at home with me in Hawaii, I declined.

A man who worked for me, CT2 Mike Alexander, decided he wouldn't mind a PCS, so he took my place. I'm saddened to see that Mike passed away in 1994. I've always wanted to make contact with him and talk about what happened. To apologize, perhaps, for him having taken my spot on that fateful cruise. As you probably know, the USS Banner followed the Pueblo. When they came around looking for volunteers after the capture of the Pueblo, I was first in line, PCS or no. It was only 3 days before my scheduled departure for survival training (this was something new, a direct result of the Pueblo's capture, I believe) in San Diego when the Banner's decommissioning was announced and my orders were cancelled.

I believe that about a year after the crew's release I had the good fortune to play golf with Chief Kell at the Navy-Marine (?) golf course above Pearl Harbor, but if it was him, I'm sure he has long forgotten about it. The purpose of my letter today is to try and make contact with as many of the crew of the Pueblo as possible. I am planning to write a book about the incident, and want to know as much as possible about how crew members were affected first by the capture, then by the treatment given Bucher by the Navy. Everything I have heard, read, and seen about that tells me that the greater injustice came from the US Navy, rather than the Koreans. I'm very curious as to how the crew feels about this subject.

Thanks, Joe Barr

September 20, 1999

From: "Joe and Deb Moore"

I was on the USS Samuel Gompers (AD-37) which left San Diego for Pearl harbor enroute to Japan late in 1967. During our two week stay in Pearl I did some pump repair and some other work on the Pueblo. My point in writing to you is that I have a very rare (and short) VCR clip of the Pueblo at sea, and I was wondering if you would like a copy of it. I can't remember the exact circumstances, (its been 32 years), but I believe that in transit to Pearl harbor from San Diego, the Pueblo had a crew member get seriously hurt or ill and the Gompers picked the crewman up at sea, treated him and returned him to the Pueblo in Pearl Harbor. Anyway---at the time I had an 8 mm home movie camera and from the fantail of the Gompers took some footage of the Pueblo while she was about 500 yards off of our fantail. Later that 8 mm film has been copied on VSH-VCR tape. Would you be interested in obtaining a copy????

Date Mon, 20 Sep 1999 022011 -0400

I was a Korean Linguist with the USAF Security Service from 1969 - 1972. I was assigned that language as a result of your ship's capture and the subsequent shootdown of the Navy EC-121 in April of 1969. During that period, the Air Force built up it's intelligence gathering capability for N. Korea quite significantly.

I was stationed at Yokota AB, Japan and flew RC-130 intelligence gathering missions out of Yokota AB, Osan AB, Korea, and EC-121 early warning missions out of Kwangju AB, Korea. Later, I flew RC-135's out of Omaha to the Soviet Far East and the Korean peninsula. Our unarmed aircraft were chased many times by the N. Koreans, but fortunately we out-maneurvered them.

One of my favorite missions was off Wonson in an EC-121. That day we had 2 F4 phantom's tucked under our wing so their radar could not detect 3 aircraft. I had the pleasure of directing the F4's into the path of the outbound MIG's. Of course, as soon as they discovered we had fighter escort, they turn-tailed and ran home.

I think about your crew and the Navy EC-121 crew often and the sacrifice you all made. My heart and respect are with you all. Thank you for your sacrifice. You are not forgotten. I am creating a web page and will include a link to your site.

Best Regards,
Fred Straub
Korean Linguist - 6988th Security Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan (1969 - 1972)

Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 11:22:41 -0400

My name is Jeff McGuff. I was a member of the USAF and I was stationed at the Pentagon from 1992 to 1995. During my tenure there I had went to a briefing discussing the USS Pueblo incident.

The briefer had talked about the communication problems/delays with the USS Pueblo and it's command, and he went on to say that a committee was formed to create a reliable connectionless internet protocol. He went on to discuss the Rand Project funded by the AF.

I have never been able to find confirmation on this. Do you have any knowledge of this? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to put together a class on the history of the Internet for local school children and I would like to discuss the plight of the USS Pueblo and how it prompted better communication.

Thanks,

Jeff McGuff

Date Thu, 23 Sep 1999 121320 -0400

Hi there,
My name is Dawn Porta and I'm a student at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan. In one of my classes I was assigned to do an informative speech on something significant that happened in the year of our birth. I was born in 1968 and I chose to do it on The USS PUEBLO. 1968 is full of news that I could have chosen -Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy's assasination, but none of that inspired me like the story of the USS Pueblo. I never knew about what happened until this year. I did a web search for the year 1968 and found your webpage.

Your web page is great and full of information and I hope you don't mind if i use it as a source of information for my speech. I also want to thank each and every person that was on the USS PUEBLO, Lord knows not enough people seem to care about what happened in the 1960's but I do. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,
Dawn M. Porta

Date Thu, 23 Sep 1999 144118 +0900

You asked for any information that might help make your site even more informative. I don't have very much in that regard but I do have a little story to tell.

I was a second class ET on the USS MANSFIELD (DD-728) homeported in Yokosuka when PUEBLO arrived. We had been in Yokosuka since January, 1966 and were due to return to the States in September '68. I wanted to stay homeported in Japan so before we got underway for Viet Nam in January '68, I went to PUEBLO and asked to see the ET's on board to see if I could get a swap. I was escorted down to the SOD hut and turned over to CT's instead. I was told "we're all CT's here, no ET's". I was asked what my equipment specialty was and I told them "secure voice" (TSEC/KY-8). The CT I was talking to (a first class, I think) told me PUEBLO didn't carry secure voice so there was no billet for me and so I left.

Later, on our way to the gun line (we were south of Taiwan by then, no chance to turn around and come to the rescue), we heard the news about PUEBLO's capture. Two thoughts have gone through my mind continously as I read through your web site. What if Petty Officer Nolte and I had hooked up and he had wanted a swap, and what if MANSFIELD had gotten underway a week later. She would have been in the vicinity of Sasebo and could have come screaming (that old ship could do 33 knots easily) to the rescue. She carried six 5 inch 38 guns (3 twin mounts) and 50 cals. She was pretty well armoured (we'd been hit by 122mm armour piercing off Dong Hoi, North Viet Nam). And then there is the ultimate in shameful stupidity. Like the Israili's and USS LIBERTY, the North Koreans GOT AWAY WITH IT. That only encouraged them to shoot down the EC-121, and murder the Army Major in Panmunjom. And it encourages others to "get away with it" too.

Good luck to you and your shipmates, -JJ
J. J. Marold
D9242JM
SPAWAR Facility Japan

Date Fri, 24 Sep 1999 080838 -0500

Great web page! I passed the URL around the office and was struck with how little if anything some of the younger people knew about the incident. I remember it plain as day, though I was certainly not aware of all the details.

I may not know every intent you have for the web site, but it is sure to provide folks with facts and maybe (if we are lucky) cause some thinking to take place. But one effect I did notice, you guys are heroes to some newly informed people.

THANKS!

Bruce Hollinger

Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 17:52:00 -0700

This is the most organized and fully developed site I have seen. It has taken up all of my spare time for the past three weeks. My congrats to you.
Joe Moore MRC, USN, (ret)

Date Sun, 26 Sep 1999 235930 -0400

Gentlemen,

At the time of the attack on the USS Pueblo, I was assigned to the 6314
Civil Engineering Sq., Osan AB, Korea, Sgt. USAF. I witnessed the build
up of both men and materials including aircraft from CONUS and the
surrounding areas in the Far East. I always had an affinity towards you
brave men of the Pueblo and hoped that our forces would go into Wonson
and get both the crew and ship out. However, the government felt
otherwise, you were expendable, which was wrong.
In closing, I salute you !!!

John Matson, Jr.