[Ax]

I was working at Camp Fuchinobe, Japan, the evening Pueblo was hijacked. We were directed to focus all of our meager resources toward N. Korea. One of my neighbors from Kami Seya was supposed to have joined Pueblo at Sasebo, but he switched cruises and the other guy got to spend 11 months as a guest of Kim Il Sung.

[aposiopetic]

The crew were tortured and generally treated inhumanely, as I recall.

Of course, I thought (and still think) assets should have been brought to bear to give the Pueblo a chance. Though I don't agree with the decision to be slow to send support, it is understandable, as things could have escalated fast, especially with nuclear weapons on aircraft most readily available to provide support.

No way was potential escalation to WWIII the case in Benghazi, so I can't see there was any excuse.

[jmax]

PUEBLO was AGER-2. I was on USS PALM BEACH, AGER-3. We were converted and recommissioned together at PSNS (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard) in Bremerton, Washington in 1967. Originally designated AKL-44 and AKL-45, respectively.

Unlike my friends on PUEBLO, PALM BEACH was the best duty station I had in 21 years of naval service.

[DustyMoment]

God bless your neighbor and give him the Hawaiian Greeting for me.

He’ll know what I mean.