USS Pueblo Captured(January 23, 1968)

History Channel ^ | 1/23/2005 | History Channel

[kellynla]

On January 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo a Navy intelligence vessel, is engaged in a routine surveillance of the North Korean coast when it is intercepted by North Korean patrol boats. According to U.S. reports, the Pueblo was in international waters almost 16 miles from shore, but the North Koreans turned their guns on the lightly armed vessel and demanded its surrender. The Americans attempted to escape, and the North Koreans opened fire, wounding the commander, Lloyd Bucher, and two others. With capture inevitable, the Americans stalled for time, destroying the classified information aboard while taking further fire. Several more crew members were wounded, including Duane Hodges, who later died from his injuries.

[BykrBayb]

This could have easily been me and my ship.

Thank God it wasn't, but damn, it shouldn't have been any U.S. ship.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

North Kprea STILL uses the USS Pueblo as a propaganda tool.

It's now a North Korean "museum", complete with tours.

AND it's STILL a US Navy ship!

Ollie North showed film clips of it today, along with the Commie propaganda.

Ollie North and War Stories is THE only show I watch on FOX anymore.

[Texas Deb]

Thanks for sharing, Tonk. And War Stories is by far the best show on Fox - Ollie is great.

Thanks again for the ping.

[risk]

NEVER FORGET.

Photo #: NH 75557 USS Pueblo incident, 1968 Poor-quality photograph of USS Pueblo (AGER-2) crewmembers at a press conference in North Korea, taken sometime after they and their ship were captured off Wonsan on 23 January 1968. Pueblo's Commanding Officer, Commander Lloyd M. Bucher, is standing in center.

[BykrBayb]

My tv viewing has been whittled down to next to nothing too. Now Nick @ Nite is going to start showing Murphy Brown. I now have one channel left that doesn't raise my blood pressure; TV Land. And even that one has started running obnoxious commercials.

[SAMWolf]

Bump

[ntnychik]

As a teenager at the time, I remember seeing a posed picture of the captive Pueblo crew, and began to laugh out loud. Each one had their middle finger exposed in the pic. I think they were found out and beaten for it, but their act of defiance made them heroes to me. Anyone have that picture?

[Seadog Bytes]

RE: "Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) was president at the time. There is nothing mentioned in his bio about about the USS Pueblo!"

Probably wasn't too much in there about him sc**wing retired military personnel out of the medical benefits promised them 'for life' by their military recruiters (in exchange for their agreeing to 'stay for twenty') EITHER, was there???!!!

   

[Cuttnhorse]

Hi Tonk,

I was on the USS Ault, DD 698, and was due to be discharged in February. Was terrified they were going to freeze all discharges but they let me go.

Cuttnhorse, QM2

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[MeekOneGOP]

[Defender2]

#5. A little additional info. North Korea's seizure of the U.S.S. Pueblo on 23 January, 1968, provoked a buildup of forces in South Korea as well. F-100, RF-101, and F-105 units were sent to South Korea. B-52s' were deployed to Okinawa. F-106 units rotated there for a period of two years as well. This incident, spurred South Korea's modernization of her forces as well.

D2

[jriemer]

More effort was put into the release of the SS Mayaguez by the US Armed Forces than was put into the freeing of the USS Pueblo. What a difference a change of CINC makes.

Capture and Release of SS Mayaguez by Khmer Rouge forces in May 1975

[Smartass]

The term used by the Democrats and MSM of "Vietnam quagmire" is a misnomer and pure political BS.    Vietnam was President Lyndon Johnson's war, and badly screwed up by then Secretary of Defense James McNamara and his Pentagon "whiz kids."    Johnson refused to listen to military advisor's, refused to take the fight to the enemy, went into a hold and defend mode, and left America with a disgraceful loss. Not by our military, but by Johnson and a Democrat controlled congress.   All proudly done under, and by the Democrats that our now silent of their own misdeeds, but are quick to equate Bush with Vietnam...Garbage.    Our military was very capable of winning, however were held back by a dumb Democrat controlled congress and a dumber Dem President Lyndon B. Johnson.

[Defender2]

#33. Thanks for the post and link. Yes, what a difference the CINC can make. President Ford acted decisively. were still paying for President Johnson's indecisiveness in regards to the U.S.S. Pueblo as well as President Carter's indecisiveness in regards to those 444 Days(This is when we should have TRASHED the Islamofacists, maybe Sept. 11th, 2001 could have been averted had we acted decisively back in 1979-1980).

Thanks for the post.

D2

[Seadog Bytes]

RE: "...Johnson refused to listen to military advisor's, refused to take the fight to the enemy, went into a hold and defend mode, and left America with a disgraceful loss. Not by our military, but by Johnson and a Democrat controlled congress. All proudly done under, and by the Democrats that our now silent of their own misdeeds, but are quick to equate Bush with Vietnam...Garbage. Our military was very capable of winning, however were held back by a dumb Democrat controlled congress and a dumber Dem President Lyndon B. Johnson."

...while not discounting for a moment, of course, the traitorous efforts of Fonda, Kerry and the rest of the anti-American Left.

[Smartass]

My Brother in Law flew F-4 Phantoms, had two tours of duty, and 230 sorties in Vietnam.    The so called Vietnam quagmire was created by President Lyndon Johnson, his Secretary of Defense James McNamara, and a Democratic House and Senate.    If they would have turned the fight over to the military, with goals and objectives and the balls to win, it would have been won.    Speak with any military person, other then "Hanoi John" that fought there, and that war should never have been lost to a third/fourth world country.   The BS now from the Democrats and MSM about the Iraqi war is exactly that, BS.   I know better.

 

[potlatch]

Interesting post about your brother in law SmartA.

[Smartass]

Thanks Potlatch...I made a mistake.   It was 320 sorties instead of 230.   The rest was correct.   Lots and lots of non discussable tears about Korea and Nam.

[potlatch]

320 sorties was a lot and to make it home safely too!!