News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: USS Pueblo

Date: May 21, 2001

There is a movement to have the USS Pueblo, held captive by North Korea and exploited as a floating museum, to be returned. In addition, as a gesture of goodwill, it is asked that communist North Korea return her colors.

For those wishing to add their voice, please visit the USS Pueblo Veteran's Association at -

http://www.usspueblo.org/

Read on -

"The Honorable Phil Gramm:
    
I appreciate your response to my concerns regarding the return of the USS PUEBLO as relayed to you to by Daniel Ahn.  I sent a copy of the response to Don McClarren and Edward "Stu" Russell both members of the crew of the USS PUEBLO and with whom I am in regular contact via the internet.  We are all most appreciative of your intent to raise this matter with your colleagues and to keep this matter in mind when issues of US-NK relations come up in the Senate for consideration.
    
There appears to be the possibility of a trip by President Clinton to North Korea in the near future: perhaps in November.  As you know November 11 is Veteran's Day.  It would be most fitting and proper to have the President return with a tribute and honor to veterans with a comittment of North Korea to return the USS PUEBLO.  I have an email correspondence from an official at the KNS that indicates such a return is possible as a result of discussion at the highest levels government (attached).  While I have emailed the same concerns regarding the return of the USS PUEBLO to the President and to the Secretary of State, I have only received the "canned" acknowledgement of the receipt of the email. 
    
Most Honorable Senator Phil Gramm, I know you are from the other side of the aisle and do not share the same opinions and values of President Clinton, but you are the only high level government official who seems to care about this issue of the return of the USS PUEBLO recognizing it as a means of a clear and meaningful signal from NK as to how serious they are about improving relations and entering the international community.  I must ask a great favor of you while the opportunity presents itself.  Since you are a senior and well respected member of the Senate, I ask you to put aside your differences with President Clinton and step across the aisle.  Please contact and speak to President directly so that he has this matter in his mind while considering the issue of future US-North Korea relations.  If we do not ask for the ship back, what are the chances that it will be returned?  President Clinton could bring this matter up in his direct contact with KIM Jong Il.
    
As you realize the importance of the gathering of SIGINT, COMINT, ELINT, and HUMINT, I will tell you that the USS PUEBLO played a very important part in the victory of the Cold War.  Prior to the seizure of the USS PUEBLO and prior to the BLUE HOUSE RAID, I had in my possession as Chief, Intelligence Branch, MID, G2, Hq, 8th Army, an intelligence report from the NK POLITBURO which indicated that when US troop levels reached 500,000 in Vietnam, North Korea intended to start a second major warfront in order to overextend the US forces believing that the US could not support two major warfronts simultaneously. As you recall, shortly after the BLUE HOUSE RAID and the seizure of the USS PUEBLO, the TET OFFENSIVE was launched by NV in Vietnam.  I and Bruce K. Grant coauthored a memo using as a basis COMINT and HUMINT that a NK assassination team  was about to embark on a mission into South Korea.  That memo was used by CINC, UNC, General Bonesteel to place all forces in South Korea on higher alert status.  The role of the USS PUEBLO was most important and critical in determining if North Korea was indeed about to launch an all out attack against South Korea just as the USS LIBERTY had an important mission in monitoring  outbrak of hositilies in Israel when the USS LIBERTY was attacked.  Had the BLUE HOUSE RAID NK assassination team been successful in killing the South Korean President (they got within 100-200 yards of the residence of PAK Chong-Hui) there is no doubt in my mind that North Korea would have been emboldened and initiated hositilities across the DMZ. Bruce K. Grant and I created and maintained the Indications of Hositilities files for the G2, 8th Army. The role of the USS PUEBLO was critical.  While forces in Korea went on higher alert status as result of the memo that Bruce and I coauthored, the word did not get to the USS PUEBLO about the assassination attempt.  The cause of the capture of the USS PUEBLO was inadequate cover and support.  I feel, as does Commander  Pete Bucher with whom I have discussed the matter, that had aerial support by way of even a "fly-by" been made, the capture of the USS PUEBLO in international waters would not have happened.  I also participated in the considered response to the seizure.  One of the first considered responses was the use of a tactical nuclear weapon airburst over WONSAN HARBOR to deny access to the USS PUEBLO.  I was not allowed to recommend a conventional weapon attack, but was only allowed to respond the use of the tactical nuclear weapon.  I had previously been Chief, Plans and Operations and was custodial officer for OPLANs and contingency plans including various nuclear weapons OPLANs and the SIOP (Single Integrate Operation Plan for general nuclear warfare).   I recommended that we negotiate to get the crew back rather than use a nuclear weapon airburst over WONSAN.    We did, however, lay out plans for the use of nuclear weapons should the NKs miscalculate.  We then became worried the NK might miscalculate and we leaked the use of nuclear weapons to the chinese delegation at Panmunjom in order that keep the NKs from miscalculating.  I made the leak through the Senior Aide to the negotiator.  Prior to that time, the CHICOMs would not speak or acknowledge our presence in the room.  In opposition to the Tolstikov's belief that it was a threat, it was not made as a threat but as an attempt to keep the peace and avoid the use of nuclear weapons if NK miscacluated.
    
Given the President is going to visit NK, it is time for us to get the USS PUEBLO back as its final mission and contribution to peace. . 
    
I fully understand the difficulty and importance of Secretary of State Albright's mission to North Korea to stop the development of NK nuclear weapons and missiles.  I see the USS PUEBLO as performing one last mission in victoriously bringing an end to the Cold War:  The return of the USS PUEBLO would be a clear signal of how serious NK is in improving relations.  Not long ago the USS PUEBLO was moved from WONSAN through international waters to NAMPO. It has been touted as a symbol of the fight against the US imperialism (see attachment of Soviet official visit to USS PUEBLO) and used as a tourist attraction.  I find it particularly galling that the spot where Duane Hodges was killed is pointed out by the NK "tour guides." 
    
I would like to see the USS PUEBLO returned to San Diego where the POW medal was awarded to the crew and set up as a memorial to Duane Hodges, the crew of the USS PUEBLO,  the important part that the collection of ELINT, SIGINT, COMINT, and HUMINT played for our victory in the Cold War, and an everlasting reminder of the importance of protecting and giving cover to the men that serve our country.
    
You will also be receiving an email from Stu Russell who has received documentation of the present use to which the North Koreas have put the USS PUEBLO.  He too is hopeful you will use your senior and well respected position to bring the matter personally to President Clinton's attention.
    
I truly feel you have the honor and respect to gain the President's ear on this matter.  
    
With great respect for you,
Bob Liskey"

"Honorable Senator Gramm,

I understand that you are being lobbied about the return of the USS Pueblo. I would like to add my voice to those that are making this request. In early January, 1967 I reported to Bremerton Naval Ship Yard as the seventh member of the precommissioning crew. I spent over one year of my life working up to 18 hours a day to get that ship ready for its mission, even though we were never told what it was. On January 23, 1968, we were seventeen miles off the coast of the DPRK, when we were fired upon and overwheelmed by six heavily armed surface ships and two migs. The crew was released eleven months latter, but the ship remained at the back water port of Wonsan until recently. Earlier this year the North Koreans moved the ship in international waters from their east coast to their west coast. Why this movement was not observed is locked in Pentagon files and not available via FOIA requests. Today the ship stands as a tourist attaction where one of the original members of the boarding party gleefully points out where the brave men of the Korea Peoples Army killed Seamen Daune Hodges. Daune was a young man whose life ended when a three inch shell exploded in his hip. We, the crew of the Pueblo, wish to have this ship returned to the control of our govenrment along with its colors so that is may be given an honorable retirement from the Navy rolls.

Respectfully yours,

Stuart Russell, Historian
USS Pueblo Suvivors Association "

"Dear Mr. Ahn,

The purpose of this letter is to request your assistance in the return of the USS Pueblo (AGER-2). I was a crewmember of the ship when it was attacked and boarded in international waters by the military forces of the Democratic Peoples Republic (DPRK). You may recall the crew was repatriated eleven months later to US forces in the Republic of Korea. The ship itself has remained in the possession of the Koreans. It is still on the rolls of the United States Navy and was moved earlier this year from the east coast port of Wonsan to the west coast of their country. It is now moored in Pyongyang and serves as a venue for continued vituperative propaganda by that government. Since the ship was turned into a tourist site; we, the crew, have heard from Americans and others that have taken a tour of the ship.  The attached photos shows Pak In Ho, a member of the boarding party that attacked the ship, one of the guides who is unidentified. She has angered American visitors to the ship by showing off with great glee the place where Fireman Duane Hodges was stuck by a three inch shell. The other attached photos are of people on our ship either teaching or learning to hate Americans. We take extreme umbrage at this tasteless display.

Earlier this month a friend of the crew received the following e-mail from the DPRK news service. It was encouraging to say the least, but the chances of a high ranking American official going to Korea was extremely remote to say the least. Now we have learned that President Clinton is considering travel to the Land of the Morning Calm. If he does go and meet with their leaders, we are requesting that you urge him to ask for the return of our colors and a promise to return the ship. I believe that such an action on the part of the government of the DPRK will truly demonstrate their desire to improve relationships between the two countries. Thank you for you consideration.

Stuart Russell, Historian
USS Pueblo Veterans Association "