Colin Heaton.

Written By The Phil Tourney Podcast

Colin Heaton Interviews USS Liberty Survivor Phil Tourney: “We Were Set Up To Be Killed”

Straight From the Source
In a searing Forgotten History interview, historian and former Marine Colin Heaton welcomes Phil Tourney, a survivor of the 1967 USS Liberty attack, to set the record straight. Tourney offers a devastating account of betrayal, political cover-up, and the horrifying details of a U.S. naval intelligence ship attacked by Israel—with full knowledge of the U.S. government.

“They planned to sink us, blame Egypt, and start World War III. And they almost got away with it.” — Phil Tourney

The Day the Liberty Was Attacked
While operating legally in international waters during the Six-Day War, the USS Liberty was:

  • Surveilled by Israeli recon jets that waved at the crew.

  • Attacked at 2:00 PM by unmarked Mirage jets, using rockets, napalm, and machine guns.

  • Hit by five torpedoes—one blast killed 25 Americans instantly.

  • Targeted again by troop helicopters with Israeli marines prepared to board, but abruptly pulled back.

Even life rafts were machine-gunned or taken as trophies. The crew had no defenses, no communications, and were left alone for 17 hours after U.S. aircraft were launched and then recalled.

A Government That Turned Its Back
Tourney shares how, after the attack:

  • Survivors were threatened by Admiral Isaac Kidd: "If you ever talk, you’ll go to prison—or worse."

  • The Navy’s official investigation was wrapped in 7 days under orders from President Lyndon B. Johnson.

  • Survivors were told they couldn’t even mention Israel on their citations or memorial plaques.

“We were abandoned twice—once in battle, and again by silence.”

The Real Mission & the Bigger Lie
The Liberty was a top-secret NSA spy ship. Tourney confirms they were assigned to listen in on Egyptian and Russian signals—not Israel. Orders specifically prohibited monitoring Israeli transmissions. And yet, Israel launched an attack anyway, fully aware of the ship’s identity.

Admiral Thomas Moorer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, later confirmed:

"The USS Liberty was the easiest ship in the world to identify."

56 Years Later, Still No Accountability
Despite being the most decorated crew in Navy history for a single event, no U.S. administration has ever publicly acknowledged what really happened. The official story remains: a tragic case of mistaken identity.

Tourney and the Liberty Veterans Association continue to demand a full Congressional investigation.

Support the Cause & Help Preserve the Truth:

  • 🌐 Visit usslibertyveterans.org

  • 🎥 Watch Sacrificing Liberty on YouTube and Rumble

  • 📘 Read Tourney’s book What I Saw That Day

  • 📣 Share this story and speak up for those who never made it home

“We’re not going away. We’re not shutting up. We’re speaking for our brothers who were murdered that day.”

Suggested Tags:
USS Liberty, Phil Tourney, Colin Heaton, Forgotten History, False Flag Attack, 1967 Six-Day War, Israel US Relations, Military Cover-Up, Government Betrayal, USS Liberty Veterans

The Phil Tourney Podcast

Phil Tourney is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran, survivor of the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, and a three-time President of the USS Liberty Veterans Association. He received the Bronze Star with “V” for valor and the Purple Heart for his actions during the attack. For nearly six decades, he has been one of the

most vocal advocates ensuring the memory of the Liberty and its crew is not erased.

Beyond his military service, Tourney is the co-author of What I Saw That Day and Erasing the Liberty, and has become a respected speaker, podcast guest, and radio host. His unflinching testimony challenges official narratives, exposes cover-ups, and honors the 34 men who were killed that day.

https://www.thephiltourneypodcast.com
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