William McGonagle William Loren McGonagle ( November 19 , 1925 – March 3 , 1999 ) was a United States Naval officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions while in command of the when it was attacked in the Eastern Mediterranean on June 8 , 1967 during the Six - Day War . After accepting a commission in the US Navy in 1944 McGonagle held various assignments before taking command of the " Liberty " in 1966 . In June 1967 the " Liberty " was sailing in international waters in the Eastern Mediterranean when it was attacked by the Israel Defense Forces , injuring McGonagle , killing and injuring other members of his crew , and severely damaging the ship . He maintained control of the ship until help arrived , and after healing from his wounds was presented the Medal of Honor for his actions on the " Liberty " in 1968 . He continued his navy career , holding several more positions until retiring in 1974 . When he died in 1999 he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors a short distance from the graves of some of his crew who were killed during the attack . Biography . McGonagle was born November 19 , 1925 in Wichita , Kansas . After attending secondary school and college in California , he enlisted in the Navy in 1944 and for the next three years participated in a Navy training program at the University of Southern California . In June 1947 he accepted a commission into the Navy as an ensign . He was assigned to the destroyer and after that was posted to the minesweeper from 1947 - 1950 . During the Korean War he served on the minesweeper during the extensive operations that earned him and the other members of the crew a Presidential Unit Citation . From 1951 to 1966 , he was assigned to various positions ashore and afloat , including commands of the fleet tug from 1957 – 1958 and the salvage ship from 1961 - 1963 . He took command of the " Liberty " in April 1966 and on June 8 , 1967 the " Liberty " was attacked while sailing in international waters in the Eastern Mediterranean . The Israeli government claimed the ship was an Egyptian vessel and attacked it with jets , helicopters and motor torpedo boat s . McGonagle was severely wounded during the first air attack but remained in command throughout the night and the seventeen hour attack . Although the bridge had sustained heavy damage he stayed and directed the defense of the ship , refusing to leave his post for needed medical attention . As the Israeli fighters continued their attack he maneuvered his ship , directed its defense , supervised the control of flooding and fire , and saw to the care of the casualties . Eventually a United States destroyer arrived to assist and he permitted himself to be removed from the bridge and relinquished command of the " Liberty " . The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members including naval officers , seamen , two Marines , and a civilian , wounded 171 , and severely damaged the ship . Although the ship had a 39 ft ( 12 m ) wide by 24 ft ( 7 . 3 m ) high hole and a twisted keel , the crew kept the ship afloat , and were able to leave the area under their own power . When the damage to the ship was assessed 821 rocket and machine - gun holes were found in the ship ' s hull . On March 3 , 1999 he died in Palm Springs , California and , following services at the Post Chapel at Fort Myer , Virginia , he was buried with full military honors on April 9 , 1999 at Arlington National Cemetery with members of his USS " Liberty " crew in attendance . His grave can be found in section 34 , lot 208 map grid U / V 11 near the common gravesite of six other members of the USS " Liberty " crew . Medal of Honor . The Medal of Honor was presented to him at the Washington Navy Yard by the Secretary of the Navy , rather than at the White House by the President . After being promoted to captain in October 1967 and recovering from his wounds he was given command of the new ammunition ship . His last command was as the Commanding officer of the NROTC Unit at the University of Oklahoma . He retired from active duty in 1974 . Medal of Honor citation . His Medal of Honor citation ( which fails to mention Israel ) reads : Other honors . A Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to McGonagle for Veterans Day in 1999 , recognizing him as one of five Medal of Honor recipients from the Southern California desert area . The Captain William L . McGonagle Branch Medical / Dental Clinic was dedicated at Naval Security Group Activity Northwest , Chesapeake VA , on December 5 , 1997 . This is believed to be one of the few times in history a U . S . Naval building has been dedicated in honor of a living sailor .