40 Years After Capture, USS Pueblo Crew Reunites

FOX/AP ^ | September 06, 2008

[nuconvert]

40 Years After Capture, USS Pueblo Crew Reunites

JERICHO, Vt. — Ralph McClintock expected only a three-week mission when he boarded the USS Pueblo in January 1968.

Instead, he and his shipmates became pawns in a Cold War sideshow when North Korea captured the Navy spy ship and imprisoned its 82 crew members. Some still suffer the physical effects of torture or malnutrition they suffered in 11 months of captivity.

McClintock is proud of his service as a 24-year-old communications technician and the bonds he made with his crew mates, but that pride is tinged with bitterness.

"We were treated as heroes when we got back, but what the Navy, the institution of the Navy really wanted, in my opinion, is the Pueblo to have sunk," McClintock said at his Jericho home. "When we came back, the Navy now has to look at itself and they don't like to look at themselves."

On Wednesday, 40 of the 69 surviving crew members will gather in neighboring Essex for a four-day reunion featuring exhibits and speeches by experts on U.S.-Korean relations

[doug from upland]

One of the guys on that ship spoke to my Kiwanis club about three years ago. It was chilling.

[Broker]

The crypto gear from USS Pueblo + daily codes from CWO Walker & Company totally comprimised the US to Soviet Intelligence services. Many lives were lost. Submarines were lost. Never again.!

[Gondring]

They moved her through international waters back in 1999 and we did nothing.

[mkjessup]

They moved her through international waters back in 1999 and we did nothing.

That's because Maddy the Midget was dancing her jig (per orders from Bill Clinton) on top of the piano that Condi Rice would later figuratively play for the amusement of the 'Dear Leader'.

Some things never change. I'd like to think that President McCain will consider the issue of the Pueblo much more seriously than his predecessors.

[mkjessup]

The crypto gear from USS Pueblo + daily codes from CWO Walker & Company totally comprimised the US to Soviet Intelligence services. Many lives were lost. Submarines were lost. Never again.!

That scumbag Walker should have been swinging from a rope. As it is, he enjoys three hots and a cot for the rest of his life. Some 'justice', if we had gotten into a shooting war with the Soviets, Walker's treason could have made the difference between victory and defeat so far as Naval operations were concerned.

[Slump Tester]

Commander Lloyd Bucher came to my high school and spoke about appreciating our freedoms. I think it was 1973 or 74.

He was warmly received and made a profound impression on many.

[xrmusn]

...that scumbag Walker....etc...etc...
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = == = = == = = = = =
Why are you desecrating scumbags?
Walker should have NEVER been put in isolation.
The ‘boyz’ in genpop would have wiped that ‘grin’ off his face in short time.
That POS not only sold out US, he bullied his kids into joining and put them to work for him, and he did it for MONEY, not some ideology.....

[mkjessup]

You are absolutely right FRiend.

I extend apologies to all more honorable scumbags out there for grouping them with the traitor Walker.

[painter]

One of my mom’s high school friends and classmates was married to the Captain of the Pueblo at the time of capture.