Guest #77 | Moe Shafer. Authenticity.
For 58 years, the USS Liberty attack was buried under silence, shame, and secrecy. That ends now.
🎹 The USS Liberty Cover-Up | Moe Shafer on Israel, Espionage, and a Near Nuclear War
In Episode #393, Ray Doustdar sits down with Moe Shafer, a survivor of the 1967 USS Liberty incident, to tell the other half of a story most Americans have never heard. Moe, a former Naval communications technician ("spook"), reveals what it was like to be on board a classified spy ship attacked by Israel during the Six-Day War — an attack that nearly triggered a nuclear holocaust.
Moe was 20 years old. He survived a torpedo blast that killed 25 of the 45 men in his underwater compartment. The only reason you're hearing this story is because he lived. And the only reason he lived might be divine intervention.
🌟 Key Takeaways
The USS Liberty was deliberately attacked by Israeli forces, despite clear American markings and active communication
Moe was in the ship's intelligence section, which was targeted first to destroy communication capabilities
The U.S. government suppressed the incident, threatening survivors with prison if they spoke out
A nuclear strike on Cairo was minutes away from being executed as a false-flag retaliation
Survivors like Moe lived with trauma, silence, and medical issues for decades before receiving any recognition or benefits
🧠 Summary
Moe Shafer joined the Navy to escape a rough home life and ended up inside one of the most explosive geopolitical cover-ups in American history. Assigned to the USS Liberty as a CT (communications technician), Moe's job was to intercept and relay top-secret intelligence. On June 8, 1967, while stationed off the Sinai Peninsula during the Six-Day War, the Liberty was attacked in broad daylight by Israeli jets and torpedo boats.
The attack was no mistake. Moe recounts how Israeli planes flew over the ship earlier that day, taking precise photographs. Hours later, every communications antenna was destroyed in a coordinated assault, followed by a direct torpedo hit that tore open Moe's compartment below deck, killing half the men inside.
The only outgoing message said: "Under attack, believed to be Arabs." The only response: "Help is on the way." But no help came for over 20 hours.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy had scrambled jets — including nuclear-armed bombers — to strike Cairo, believing Egypt was behind the attack. Only a last-minute recall prevented global catastrophe. The truth: it was Israel, and the U.S. covered it up.
Moe and his crewmates were sworn to silence under threat of Leavenworth. It took him 56 years to receive medical compensation for the injuries he suffered that day.
🔎 Practical Tips
When governments cite "mistaken identity," dig deeper
Veterans often carry trauma silently; ask, listen, support
Never assume historical consensus equals historical truth
Documentaries like Sacrificing Liberty are essential for uncovering buried narratives
📚 Research Spotlight
The USS Liberty suffered 34 deaths and 174 injuries out of 294 crew members. According to Admiral Thomas Moorer, former Chief of Naval Operations, "the attack was deliberate" and the cover-up intentional. The Liberty was 13 miles offshore, flying a U.S. flag, and clearly identified.
❓ FAQ
Was the USS Liberty attack really deliberate?
Yes. Israeli planes conducted surveillance beforehand and used unmarked jets in the initial attack.
Why would Israel attack an American ship?
Theories include a false-flag operation to draw the U.S. into the war against Egypt.
Why didn't the U.S. retaliate?
President Johnson and the Pentagon suppressed the incident, fearing geopolitical fallout.
Why is this only coming out now?
Survivors were gagged for decades under threat of imprisonment. Only recently have voices like Moe's been amplified.
⏱️ Chapters & Timestamps
00:00 – Intro to Moe Shafer and the Liberty's history
03:00 – Life before the Navy, Moe's path to the Liberty
08:00 – Espionage at sea: bouncing signals off the moon
16:00 – June 8, 1967: The day the Liberty was attacked
26:00 – The torpedo blast that nearly cut the ship in half
33:00 – Israel's helicopters, fake rescue, and war crimes
45:00 – The U.S. nuclear response that almost launched
50:00 – Aftermath: recovery, deception, and cover-up
58:00 – Why this story matters more than ever today
🗺️ Final Thought
The reason you know this story is because they failed to sink that ship. Truth floats — and it's time to bring it to the surface.
🔗 Social & Links
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepshallowdive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deepshallowdive
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deepshallowdive
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raydoustdar
X/Twitter: https://x.com/deepshallowdive
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@deepshallowdive
Substack: https://deepshallowdive.substack.com/
