Fireman Duane Hodges

Fireman Duane Hodges was a United States Navy sailor who was killed during the Attack on the USS Liberty by Israel Defense Forces aircraft and motor torpedo boats on June 8, 1967, in the midst of the Six-Day War. His death marked the only fatality among the ship's crew from direct enemy fire during the assault. Hodges was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and is memorialized as a symbol of the incident's tragic cost.

Early life and career

Duane Hodges was born around 1940 and enlisted in the United States Navy in the early 1960s. He served as a Fireman, a junior enlisted rating responsible for the operation and maintenance of the ship's engineering plant and auxiliary equipment. By 1967, he was assigned to the Technical Research Ship USS Liberty (AGTR-5), a National Security Agency vessel configured for signals intelligence collection. The *Liberty* was part of the United States Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea during a period of heightened tension in the Middle East.

USS Liberty incident

On June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, the USS Liberty (AGTR-5) was cruising in international waters off the coast of the Sinai Peninsula. In the afternoon, the ship was subjected to a sustained aerial and naval assault by the Israel Defense Forces. Israeli Mystère and Mirage fighter jets strafed the vessel with cannon fire and napalm, followed by attacks from motor torpedo boats which launched torpedoes. One torpedo struck the ship's hull on the starboard side, causing catastrophic damage. Fireman Duane Hodges was stationed in a machinery space that was directly hit by the torpedo blast; he was killed instantly by the concussion and shrapnel. The attack resulted in 34 American fatalities and 171 wounded, with Hodges being the only crewman killed by the initial torpedo impact.

Death and burial

Fireman Duane Hodges's body was recovered from the wreckage following the attack. The severely damaged USS Liberty (AGTR-5) managed to stay afloat and was later escorted to safety by units from the United States Sixth Fleet, including the USS *America*. His remains were returned to the United States. He was interred with full military honors at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. His official status was listed as "Killed in Action," and he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon for his sacrifice.

Legacy and honors

Fireman Duane Hodges is remembered as the first and only fatality from direct enemy fire during the controversial Attack on the USS Liberty. His name is inscribed on the *USS Liberty* memorial plaque and he is honored annually by survivors of the attack and veterans' organizations. The incident remains a significant point of discussion in studies of United States–Israel relations, friendly fire incidents, and naval history. Hodges's sacrifice is commemorated alongside his fallen crewmates, and the event is investigated by groups such as the USS Liberty Veterans Association. His story underscores the human cost of the attack amidst the ongoing political and historical debates surrounding the actions of the Israel Defense Forces and the subsequent United States government inquiries.

Category:American military personnel killed in the Six-Day War Category:Recipients of the Purple Heart Category:United States Navy sailors